A BEAUTIFUL ‘ORIGIN’
Album cover review for Elise Lebec’s Origin By Darren Melchiorre
Graphic Design and Artwork: Matthew Baldwin
White album covers are always a unique challenge for both a designer and an artist. When designing with a white background (and not with a photo of the artist on a white backdrop), the image has to be especially compelling, because your eye immediately lands and focuses on it. That image becomes the skeleton of the design, the support structure with nothing else covering it up. So it must have the power to stand alone. Think of Aerosmith’s Draw the Line, Tori Amos’ Little Earthquakes, or my personal favorite, Madonna’s Erotica: all of these album covers successfully use a white background to draw you into the album instantaneously because that image is so indestructible. The album cover design for Elise Lebec’s new album, Origin, does just this with a little softer intrigue, a worldly mysticism, and a simple spirit.
At first, I did not know what to do think of this album cover. I was seeing all of the elements, but nothing really connected me to it. However, I was so drawn to that mythical winged creature holding both the earth and the moon. The creature seemed to be of two worlds, an insect of the earth and a winged angel of the heavens. It soon became crystal clear that this character is bridging a gap between those two worlds of the sky and the earth. Once you see that connection, this album cover design becomes golden! As this winged messenger crosses the pyramid shaped border, one can only deduce that this prophet is the connection between the body and spirit, and quite possibly becomes the holy third that moves the journey forward, or better yet, completes the transformation about to occur.
The cover politely explains that the music is “Vibrant New Age/World Fusion blending Egyptian and western instrumentation and vocals.” If the cover has any flaw, it’s the fact that this text is present. You simply do not need it. Let the art be the words and it will bring the viewer in.
The number three is highly symbolic in so many writings, religions and teachings; think of the holy trinity and the third eye, just to name a few. The album cover for Elise Lebec’s Origin is a uniquely powerful and unexpected design, using three powerful elements lined up as the basis for one transcendent concept. Its simplicity and characters create connection. You can see a story forming, the beginning of an experience that both unites and supports us in seeing a bigger, more spiritual picture beyond what we see everyday.