
Translating…
Vaughan Oliver, the graphic designer whose work defined the 4AD record label, has died. He was 62. His ethereal, surreal, magnificent album art for The Pixies, Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil, and Clan of Xymox brought together design and music in a way that forever changed and elevated the design of music packaging. From The Guardian:
Oliver, born in 1957, grew up in County Durham and studied graphic design at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Polytechnic. “I was a working class lad from a dull town,” he said in 2014. “There was no real culture, my parents were not really interested in anything unusual – everything I was getting was through record sleeves. It was a democratic way of discovering art.”
He moved to London and in 1982 became the first employee for the record label 4AD. As their in-house designer, he created artwork that helped define them as purveyors of dark and complex alt-rock music; with their clashing fonts and boldly allusive but mysterious symbolism, his sleeves became some of the most revered in modern pop. “I like to elevate the banal through surrealism,” he said in 2014. “Mystery and ambiguity are important weapons in a designer’s arsenal.”
Inspector Gadget and He-Man themes performed on church organ
The theme tune to classic 80s’ cartoon Inspector Gadget performed by Riccardo Bonci at St Barnabas with Christ’s Chapel in Dulwich, England. Here’s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe:
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Dave Riley, bassist for Big Black, RIP
Dave Riley, bassist for the influential 1980s Chicago noise-punk band Big Black, has died. He was 59. According to his partner Rachel Brown, he had throat cancer. What a fucking great player, he was. And what a fucking great band. From Rolling Stone: “Dave was a fantastic musician and a critical part of the Chicago […]
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This luthier keeps Willie Nelson’s legendary guitar playable
Willie Nelson’s Martin N-20 guitar, affectionately known as Trigger, has seen some shit. Happily, the majority of the shit it’s seen has been in the name of making countless music lovers, the world over, happy. Over the years, Willie’s finger-pickin’ playing style has worn second soundhole into the guitar (not to mention the other carnage […]
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Take an extra 20% off everything in the Boing Boing store from luggage to gaming accessories
So you didn’t get all the gifts you wanted this year. Who does? The good news is, there’s still time to take advantage of holiday discounts. Here are 10 of our favorite holdovers on holiday deals. Most are already on sale, but you can take an extra 20% off the final price by using the […]
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This electric toothbrush removes 10 times more plaque than traditional brushes
Tooth decay is no joke. As dentists are fond of telling you, you’ve only got one set. (Unless you’re, like, 5.) If you’re tired of hearing that, maybe it’s time to minimize those dental visits. This AquaSonic Vibe Toothbrush kit will go a long way toward showing you’re serious about your teeth. The brush itself […]
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Treat yourself to delicious CBD relief with these organic gummies
CBD (or cannabidiol, if you’ve been living in a cave) has come a long way in a short while. It’s gone from being a relatively unknown, non-psychoactive compound in the hemp plant to a highly-touted stress and pain reliever in just the last few years. You can now get CBD in just about every form: […]