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http://dazeddigital.com/Music/article/6019/1/Infamous_Album_Art

Dazed Digital: What is your favourite photographic album cover of all time? Why?

Chris: Prince - ‘Dirty Mind’,
because he’s wearing a flasher’s mac and ladies knickers but still somehow manages to be cool.

Ben: ‘Trout Mask Replica’ by Captain Beefheart.
The album is a surreal masterpiece, it’s anti-commercial and was recorded by starving musicians imprisoned in a stinking hovel and bullied into practicing 14 hours a day under Beefheart’s Manson-esque regime… As this record represents total artistic freedom there will always be establishment dullards who don’t “get” it or it’s cover image… The Los Angeles Times even voted it one of the worst album covers of all time. Fuck ‘em. For me the image of sleazy ‘ole Beefheart in his hideous green coat and stovepipe hat leering at you from behind a fish head, palm open in a mock priestly gesture is, well, perfect.

Randall: Herb Albert and Tiajuana Brass - ‘Whipped Cream & Other Delights’.
Mmmmmmmmm.

Pat: Pantera - ‘Vulgar Display of Power’.
I’m sure there are nicer photos on albums and indeed better ones technically speaking, but from an all encompassing standpoint it’s my favourite because it’s an album that changed and redefined an entire genre of music, not only with their style and musicianship but also with the production and marketing approach taken by the label. The album also went in straight at number one in the American billboard charts and went on to sell tens of millions of copies all over the world and at the time the albums cover gave rise to some hot debates on what was ‘acceptable’ or not, so its more matter of fact than of opinion. As far as the cover goes, “the man being punched on the album cover was paid $300 by label executives, or $10 a punch. It took 30 punches to get the right shot” - quite a unique approach I’m sure you’ll agree!

What’s yours?…

Click below for Flickr slideshow.

Photos by www.jeanlucbrouard.com

These are a few sneaky behind the scenes photos of our forthcoming video ‘Under the Weather’.
Chris with the wind in his hair, Mr. Ben Lightning rockin the cloud hat, Pat and Randall tackling Phileas Fogg machine…
And the weather men directors Phil and Olly aka Diamond Dogs.
The first ever screening of the video will be up on our website very soon…

Available digitally from
iTunes  |  Amazon  |  7 Digital  |  Napster  |  Tunetribe  |  Rhapsody (US only)

Includes Extended Version and Instrumental.

‘BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES’

Double A Side c/w

‘BROKEN HEARTS & BATTLE SCARS’
 

‘battlefield rock’ - thebeatsurrender.co.uk
 

“… this latest single gives us another excuse to shove their name in your face. Tight indie rhythms and melodic piano gives this catchy single an early Ben Folds kind of feel, only replacing the boo-hoo angst with a cheery optimism that clearly has its eye on the prize. We’ll be wearing smug told-you-so grins when they do finally break big, join us now so your t-shirt isn’t bandwagon jumping, box-fresh when it happens.” - brightonsource.co.uk

“There’s something wonderfully Mike Patton-esque about 12 Stone Toddler, like a funkier Mr Bungle they tread a tamer line than the aforementioned Mr Bungle but that slack tiffing and demonic crooning work so well you wonder if Mr Patton should maybe keep an ear on the progenies he influences if only for some new ideas.”
- Single of the month! - Subba-cultcha

“‘Batten Down The Hatches’ is an energetic carnival of a track, lots of frantic organ and infectious bass rumble that follows the vocals in a way that was made for rump-shaking, whilst ‘Broken Hearts…’ is a lighter affair with a still prominent bass and made-for-you-to-join-in handclaps…” rockmidgets.com

“A majestic tinkle of melodic pianos and a gentle verse, before the deep guitar kicks in and the complementary high keyboards give us a nice catchy mix of Indie-Rock-Pop.”

“As unpindownable as an electric eel, a crazy mélange of disparate styles marinated in a rich sauce of riffery and basted with pure rock spunk!”

Steve Lamacq plays ‘Scheming’ on his Radio 2 show.
Listener’s choice ‘they have so much energy, very good songs…’ Thanks Sam!

Sunday 30th August
For details visit www.shambalafestival.org

Just click here!

‘Pitch Black’ is the bonus track on our new album ‘Scheming’ which is available now on our website as special pre-release. Available in all good record shops April 13th through EMI Distribution.

Please select your Location & Price

UK+pp £6.95 EUROPE+pp £7.45 US & REST OF WORLD+pp £7.95

Also available from Brightons Resident

and many other online records stores.