For the last couple of years, vinyl has been edging forward from the corners of our peripheral vision. Now, with the highest rate of sales in 20 years, they have fully reclaimed the spotlight! Bringing with it the return of album artwork, once one of the world’s most important design disciplines. Observing this boom closely are music and design specialists Art Vinyl. Since 2005, a panel of experts have nominated 50 record sleeves for the chance to be crowned Best Art Vinyl of the year. Here is your guideline for 2015’s best vinyl artwork.
The competition features artwork from numerous creative disciplines, from traditional fine art, and photography and to sculptures and digital graphic design. This year the standard of the nominated artwork is phenomenal. Bjork: Vulnicura and Blur’s The Magic Whip are just two of the many outstanding shortlisted albums to look out for in the windows of the Belgrave’s Hotel, where all the entries will be exhibited until the end of April 2016.
Without any further ado, the winners of 2015’s best vinyl artwork! In third place is Tame Impala’s rippling, psychedelic ‘Currents’, designed by Robert Beatty. One of our absolute favourites we’re so glad it made the cut! Next in line is Drenge’s album ‘Undertow’, which features dark, cinematic photography from Donald Milne. No stranger to the industry, Milne has worked in the past to create album covers for the likes of Pulp and Teenage Fanclub. This year though, the winner of Best Art Vinyl has been presented to David Gilmour’s ‘Rattle That Lock’. Designed by Dave Stansbie for Creative Corporation, it’s expertly composed and dramatic, featuring landscape photography from Rupert Truman/Storm Studios. Starting this month, these three iconic album sleeves will feature in exhibitions across Europe. Viva la Vinyl!
Who would have got your vote? Check out all the shortlisted Albums Online.
