Dis|cover 2011… with GiveUpArt

Following the first part curated by Colectivo Futuro, it's Stuart Hammersley of GiveUpArt taken over the second. The London-based graphic design studio was founded in 2006 and since then helped shaping the face of dubstep - from the logos and identities of Rinse and Tempa, including cover artworks including both debuts from Skream and Benga, or my favourite - the entire Apple Pips catalogue. Further examples of GiveUpArt's work can be found here, here and here.

Below you can find ten of Stuart's favourite artworks from 2011, and I'm sure many of you will agree on his selection. Let me point out that it's worth clicking the images, as they sometimes reveal a different view!
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Rustie - Glass Swords (Warp)

Reminds me of a Roger Dean prog cover - crossed with an eighties Athena art - in a ‘good' way… Designed by the very talented Australian Jonathan Zawanda

Toddla T - Cherry Picking (Ninja Tune)

I think is a limited editon 12″ released on record store day this year. A lovely idea - a screenprinted clear plastic sleeve combined with some gorgeous red vinyl makes a sexy cherry. Designed by Peter & Paul in Sheffield… Clever sods. : )

Julio Bashmore - Batty Knee Dance (3024)

Addison Groove - It's Got Me / Minutes Of Funk (3024)

Jon Convex - Convexations EP (3024)

Really liked the last few 3024 12″ house sleeves from Erosie - a great colourful mess of pattern and texture - that manages to look individual yet easily recognisable at the same time as a 3024 release.

Balam Acab - Wander / Wonder (Tri Angle)

I just love the simplicity and mystery of this cover shot… [photo by Emmette Murkett]

Blues Control & Laraaji – FRKYS Vol. 8 (Rvng Intl.)

Borden, Ferraro, Godin, Halo, Lopatin – Frkwys Vol. 07 (Rvng Intl.)

FRKWYS is a sister lable to RVNG records out of New York. This series started before last year, but they put out a couple of lovely sleeves in 2011. Tipped on single colour print on coloured paper stock, containing the track list and cover imagery - onto a leatherette' style cover stock.. It has the feel of a private pressing, or a fanzine - and reminds me of single-colour photocopied flyers that I used to make for parties we put onwhen I was at college. By Will Work For Good from NY. Superb…

Jamie xx – Far Nearer / Beat For (Numbers)

You've just got to love a pink and red gradient… Nice play on the original minimalist artwork for his Gil Scott-Heron remix album. Well done Numbers… and hello to the Remote Location boys!

Massimiliano Pagliara – Focus For Infinity (Live At Robert Johnson)

Love the type-free cover photography of rocks and minerals - feels like a shot from an old encyclopaedia. [artwork by Michael Satter & Sandra Doeller]

Matthewdavid - International EP (Brainfeeder)

Cover image looks like it's some VHS video feedback shot from a tv screen… That analogue lo-fi oddness matches perfectly the woozy, hazy sounds that Matthew makes… This EP and the album he realeased as well was one of my highlights of 2011. Matthew's a really great guy.. (Check his label Leaving Records, too)

Scratcha DVA - Madness (Hyperdub)

Not sure who's designed this cover for Scratcha‘s latest EP on Hyperdub. But I love the Weird, disorientating, psyche-y colours… [artwork by Optigram]

“Bleep:100 Tracks 2011 (Bleep)

A bit of a shameless plug I'm afraid (sorry!) - and not technically a sleeve design as such… Bleep approached us to design the packaging for their digital compilation of the 100 best tracks of the year. Instead of just purchasing a download code for a Zip file - we made a package that you would receive or could buy as a gift. It comprised of a fold out poster with a unique download code on it, that came in a recycled card wallet stamped with clear foil text details. The poster contained loads of data that Bleep had collected from their site over the year - best seeling tunes, most searched for artists, most popular labels and so on.. so the design derived from all of this data that was presented in a (to my mind at least!) beautiful way.
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I hope you enjoyed this feature! For more of this, feel invited to (re)visit last year‘s features, the Cover Culture blog, and for vintage records Project Thirty-Three is always worth a visit. See you next year!