Silkscreen cover re-issues

[vlad]

I've noticed Pressure Sounds, and now Bristol Reggae Archives have been using this technique to command a premium and/or interest on their re-issues.

I love silk screening, but have to say that it must be used appropriately. Using this technique for reproducing photography just creates stupid result: no contrast. Silk screening is intended for vector type graphics (type of stuff done with illustrator), i.e flat colors / surfaces. Otherwise I think its just average at best. Sure, it creates some weird visual language, and one can argue its got some charm. But why not at least then ALSO use silk screening - more oftent than not - for what its best at. If I recall correctly, some silk screen jackets were done well in the past ( A Doeman LPs come to mind), as well as (very few) old Studio One LPs, but most were simply bad.

If well done, than I will be more likely to press the price and pay a premium for the re-issues formatted in this respect

[Dubmart]

Well, we've sold out of the Black Roots screen printed edition so other people must like them, as for our next screen printed issue, Talisman's new album "I-Surrection" not only will you get a screen printed sleeve, but also a tour poster and the band's signatures, (not sure if on the sleeve or poster), all for £22, barely a premium price. If you don't like it just buy the normal version which should retail around £12-£15, again not exactly an expensive price. I can see your point about using the technique to it's best by designing a sleeve to fit and it is something we may embrace in the future although our sleeves are rather different to seventies Studio One issues, many of which were also just screened versions of normal sleeves, Horace Andy, Dennis Brown, etc.

[vlad]

Dubmart, thank you for engaging. I see Bristol Archive Records as a great venture, and had I not purchased the Black Roots LP when it was released, I would have jumped on the re-issue, as I agree 22 GBP is a fair deal. My point is that if labels are to use silk printing, once in a while, se it for what it is best intended for, perhaps deviating radically from the original cover (intended for offset). For example, on the gorgeous I Surrection cover, I would have removed the group's faces. But all this is very personal, there is no absolute truth, as I'm sure you would agree.

[Dubmart]

Vlad, I actually partly agree with you, the problem is that any major changes to the art work involves costs as does every extra colour used for screen printing and the margins on vinyl are really tight. Having said that I think I'll put forward your suggestion on the "I-Surrection" sleeve, I don't think it's too late and if we made the Titles yellow we could lose the colour black entirely, I guess Sam who did the design can show us what that would look like quite simply. When we first considered screen printing I assumed we would have Studio One style printing where the ink lies on the surface and is therefore vulnerable, I was quite surprised when I saw the finished Black Roots sleeve and discovered Sam had gone to huge efforts to find card stock that would absorb the ink and give a very consistent and permanent finish. I'm usually busy compiling the new releases and other than vetoing things I really hate don't play much part in the sleeve design, even if I do have strong opinions on such things.

[jayb]

love those Coxsone screen prints - especially both versions of "roots dub"

[vlad]

Roots dub screen prints: it's so bad it's good

[vlad]

Dubmart, thanks again for your great input. Record artwork is such a great way to enhance the experience. Strange but true. In fact, funny to notice that LPs with cheesy artwork. Back in the early 80's (or late 70's) a french label called AMO (re)pressed some great LPs with the most horrendous illustrations one can imagine (I recall LP's by Uniques, Jackie Edwards,Cornell Campbell) using AIRBRUSH and using the most disconnected themes. By default, these records - with excellent sound - fetch a fraction of their equivalent Jamaican or UK releases. By the way, reading you, I know regret I didn't order the BLACK ROOTS silkscreen LP All the best!

[vlad]

I meant: "In fact, funny to notice that LPs with cheesy artwork often command a significantly lower price that ones with greater artwork"

(again, how to define "greater" without being condescending? What is beautiful, what is ugly.....so personal....)