Sound in Color: Depeche Mode-Ultra

12 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Color Inspiration, Sound in Color

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Alan Wilder, album art, collage, color, color palette, crafty, Dave Gahan, Depeche Mode, grunge, Insight, It's No Good, purple, synth pop, The Bottom Line, The Love Thieves, ultra

Another favorite from Depeche Mode, Ultra combines beautiful lyrics and synth pop beats with catchy guitar riffs. Their ninth piece of work, released in 1997, has an array of brilliant tracks such as It’s No Good, The Love Thieves, Insight, and The Bottom Line to name a few. It was the first album they recorded since Alan Wilder left the band.

The album art incorporates a range of purple hues, along with grunge textures and a collage like feel. It’s interesting to see such feminine colors against dark elements. The cover as a whole is simple but encompasses a crafty and smart design.

Sound in Color: Depeche Mode-Ultra

Sound in Color: Nirvana – In Utero

08 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Color Inspiration, Sound in Color

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album art, anatomy, color, color pallete, generation x, grunge, human body, in utero, kurt cobain, music, nirvana, warm hues

Who doesn’t know Nirvana? Growing up in the 90s, I was highly attracted to grunge rock and the lifestyle that it came with. Among that scene were a handful of bands that helped paved the way for young kids everywhere to speak their minds and to do it loudly. Nirvana was one of those bands, for sure.

Their third album, In Utero, came out in 1993. It was slightly different in style from their recent, Nevermind, with a more intellectual sound. The album art was clever and nicely done, as it featured a woman with clear skin adorned with a set of wings. The insides of her body is reminiscent of a medical drawing. The colors are what you would expect considering the anatomy of the human body. Warm hues such as orange and red stand out among lighter creams and yellows.

Sadly, this was Nirvana’s last album with the death of Kurt Cobain. I will never forget the day it was announced on TV. My friends and I just couldn’t believe it. Always in our hearts Kurt ♥

Sound in Color: Nirvana - In Utero

Sound in Color: Aphex Twin – Selected Ambient Works Volume II

20 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Color Inspiration, Sound in Color

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album art, ambient, Aphex Twin, brown, color, color palette, grunge, light, music, orange, palette, red, Selected Ambient Works Volume II, shadow, texture, tone, warm hues, yellow

Aphex Twin was a big part of my youth. As I got older his music played roles in special memories of mine, ones I would never forget. When certain sounds find their way into your life and act as a soundtrack, you know its good. This is just one of albums that I really connected with. Just the light, airy sounds and unique combination of ambient beats took me to another place. There surely is no other to compare to Aphex Twin.

The album artwork is grungy and distorted, with the color of rust the main character. The play with light really creates a beautiful array of tone and shadow, while it goes from cream to orange and then to brown. And with the texture these colors display behind it, you just wish you could feel its beauty.

This is a nice palette to take in consideration when using warm hues in your home or event. Orange has so many shades, from tangerine to the carrot color we all know, and you can find a lot of them here. The same with yellow and brown, which also incorporates the red family. A whole lot of warmth resonates from this album, both inside and out.

Sound in Color: Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works Volume II

Sound in Color: Sonic Youth – Dirty

25 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Color Inspiration, Sound in Color

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album, blue, color palette, colors, dirty, gray, grunge, hues, music, orange, red, sonic youth

I have loved Sonic Youth since back in the day when I was a teenager. There was something unique about their sound I was really attracted too. The angst that flowed through their music was a huge contribution to the 90s grunge scene, where they picked up a whole new generation of fans. This girl was surely one of them.

The NY based band has been around since the early 80s and have been the frontrunners of their time. Staying true to their underground sound and noise rock style, they have evolved into a group that truly grows within the industry. Their album Dirty, released in 1992, was their ninth production and one of my favorites. It featured art by Mike Kelley, which appealed to me the first time I saw it. How can you resist a cover with a portrait of a cute stuffed animal?

The color palette is fairly simple but ranges in tone. The warm hues of orange and red make a nice contrast to the light blue and cool gray created in the shadows. It almost has a vintage feel and if used right, this combination could successfully create that style in a space. You could take the blue and gray and design an earthy, feminine palette or go with the hotter colors and take it up a notch. This album surely offers a great amount of inspiration.

Sound in Color: Sonic Youth - Dirty