Just before Christmas 2023 I spoke with Geoff Barrow and later, Billy Fuller about the artwork for the forthcoming album from Beak> ‘>>>>’. Geoff envisaged a front cover photograph of the band fighting, in the style of some old martial arts magazines from the 80’s, and Billy talked about having Alfie (Geoff’s dog) on the back cover, towering over the Clifton Suspension Bridge firing love-lasers from his eyes down onto the band looking up from the banks of the river below. Photographer Hollin Jones was tasked with shooting the band for both elements of the sleeve, as well as for promo shots - his pictures were the basis of which to start building the front and back. I worked on varying treatments of the fighting front cover whilst slowly building up the composition of the ‘Dogzilla’ reverse, adding textures, colour, and compositing many separate pieces until it soon it became obvious that the bridge back was saying a lot more about this album than the fighting front - therefore everyone agreed a switch for the better should be made. Once the artwork was finished and delivered for print, an omitted ‘river of upside down peas’ was printed on to sticker sheets and individually applied to LPs bought at gigs. Released on LP and CD through Invada records, Beak> ‘>>>>’ is an excellent album, well-worthy of the attention it is receiving. Go fetch now!
