“The Virgin Suicides” by AIR, Various Artists

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The only reason why this cover set for The Virgin Suicides by French electronic band AIR — short for “Amour, Imagination, Rêve” (love, imagination, dream) — was even remotely possible, is the recently released reissue titled The Virgin Suicides Redux. This new edition has not only been newly (re)mixed and sounds notably different from the original album (which is why in this instance I’ve kept both versions in my digital music library), but it also brings along an unexpectedly high-res, 4000 pixel wide update of the original artwork designed by Mike Mills. And it is because of this album art…

“TRON: Legacy” by Daft Punk

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Somehow, TRON: Legacy is a near-perfect sequel, a rare achievement considering the nearly three decades that separate it from its predecessor. Director Joseph Kosinski and his team managed to capture the spirit of Steven Lisberger’s 1982 cult classic while giving it a sleek, modernized visual identity. The original TRON was groundbreaking in its use of CGI and animation, but by todays standards it looks incredibly dated – almost charmingly so! Rather than discarding those roots, Legacy embraces them, weaving the geometric neon grids and stark digital landscapes into a futuristic design that still feels distinctly TRON. The result is a…

“Alien: Earth” by Jeff Russo

Categories: Custom Covers · Mockups · Singles/EPs · Tribute Covers · Vinyl CoversTags: · · 1 Comment

Looking back at my blog history, it’s obvious how much the Alien series means to me. I’ve spent countless of hours designing individual custom covers or whole CD or vinyl mockups. Heck, for Prometheus alone, I have created over a hundred different designs. For a long time, those projects were my safe space – a way to retreat, to dive into that horrific yet beautiful universe that feels so cold and dark and infinite. I simply fucking love those deep blue-and-black colour palettes in Cameron’s Aliens, for example. For many, this means the ultimate nightmare, but for me it’s like…

“28 Years Later” by Young Fathers

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Danny Boyle’s 2002 film 28 Years Later heralded a veritable zombie renaissance. With a guerrilla-like handheld style, its relentless violence and deep-rooted melancholy, the film revived the entire genre from the undead for years to come. A crucial element of this success was the movie’s groundbreaking soundtrack. The score was noisy and unnerving as the lonely main character roams through a deserted London or gentle and melodic as all hell breaks loose in an old English mansion. It’s contradictions like these that have made 28 Days Later an iconic piece of horror cinema even today. A no less successful soundtrack…

Lost Covers, Vol. 6

Categories: Alternates/Rejected Covers · Custom Covers · Mockups · Original Covers · Singles/EPs · Tribute Covers · Vinyl CoversTags: · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Leave a comment

Some things never change – A sort of mantra that was sitting in the header on one of my first websites. And I guess it is just like that. But some things do change and here are six of ’em that have indeed changed over time on HQCovers.   Making a virtue of necessity Back in the early 2000s, I started making my own soundtrack covers due to the lack of high quality artwork available. This whole thing really was born out of necessity. Over time I’ve more and more started tackling soundtracks that I don’t even have. And by…