Daphni - JIAOLONG artwork by Jane Eastlight

Link: Jane Eastlight
Link: Caribou

Ever enticing, Dan Snaith now moves on from being known as Manitoba and, more recently, as Caribou to air his Daphni guise for a proper long-player. Coming on double vinyl, CD and digital in October, JIAOLONG demonstrates his dancefloor leanings and features visuals from Jane Eastlight.

After also putting together a video for 'Ye Ye' (the track Snaith submitted for his split single with Four Tet), Eastlight's been developing a hypnotic concept seemingly based around lighting effects and repetition: an apt direction for what is one of this year's most anticipated club-oriented albums.

 

                               

Flying Lotus - Until The Quiet Comes artwork by Stephen Serrato & B+

Link: Warp 
Link: Stephen Serrato
Link: B+

The new album from Flying Lotus - featuring guest appearances from Erykah Badu, Laura Darlington, Niki Randa, Thundercat & Thom Yorke - is set for release on October 1st via Warp Records. The artwork has just been revealed and it's designed by Stephen Serrato (who did the Reset EP). Although this time he has been working with some stunning photography by the lauded LA-based B+.

Tame Impala - Lonerism by Leif Podhajsky and Kevin Parker

Link: Leif Podhajsky
Link: Modular

The new album from, Perth-based psychedelic rockers, Tame Impala features artwork, once again, from Leif Podhajsky. Following his previous sleeves for the band, this latest [coming after the 'Apocalypse Dreams' single and, debut album, Innerspeaker] is in collaboration with, frontman, Kevin Parker.

Interestingly, the Modular label has also chosen this point to crowdsource ideas about what should constitute a future deluxe version of the release. Defining this process as 'choosing your own adventure', the company asks:

"Do you want a bonus rare seven inch? Do you want a poster of some gazelles? Do you want a lock of Kev's hair?"

Answers can be submitted here. "All genuine offers will be considered."

Flying Lotus vinyl reissues

Link: Bleep

Following the Sony/PIAS warehouse fire during last year's riots, all of Warp's stock was reported as destroyed. There was also the suggestion that many of the releases would not be re-pressed. However that physical back-catalogue has just expanded with the reissuing of four Flying Lotus vinyl releases.

Both FlyLo's Los Angeles and Cosmogramma albums are available again (complete with their artwork respectively by Build/Timothy Saccenti and Leigh J. McCloskey). Additionally 'Pattern+Grid World' (with its sleeve illustration by Theo Ellsworth) and the 'Reset EP' (Stephen Serrato and Seth Ferris) are now also up on Bleep.com.

 

Forward Strategy Group - Labour Division packaging by Adult Art Club

Link: Adult Art Club
Link: Perc Trax

Released by the Perc Trax label is the Labour Division album by Forward Strategy Group. The CD version fits neatly in a metal tin - hinting the recordings' industrial edge - with a full colour, four page booklet designed by Adult Art Club. The cover additionally has a tough aesthetic with its suspended, brutally sliced classical statue perhaps evoking the dream-like work of Giorgio de Chirico.

Wallzo's sleeve for Hot Chip's Ready for the Floor long-player also seemed to touch on the same artist's imagery although this, with it's ominous - maybe apocalyptic - landscape, is somewhat darker whilst all that concrete-like grittiness is offset nicely by Adult Art Club's more minimal detailing.

Gatekeeper - Exo artwork, environment and font by Tabor Robak

Link: Tabor Robak
Link: Hippos In Tanks

Following acclaimed releases from the likes of Grimes, James Ferraro and Laurel Halo, the always intriguing Hippos In Tanks label now readies the debut long-player from, New York-based duo, Gatekeeper.

Exo, as it's titled, is accompanied by collaborative visual work from Tabor Robak that extends further from a simple packshot to include a custom-made downloadable font and an immersive, first person gaming environment. The whole utopian sci-fi/techno-fetishism aesthetic might work for many [personally, I prefer the more organic and abstract digital fantasies of artists like Konx-om-Pax in addition to work including Robak's own 'Rocks' experiments], but the idea of providing something far more innovative than a bundle of MP3s with a thumbnail is always welcome. Especially given that this is genuinely a truly exploratory, multi-sensory project. Out July 17th.

Lorn - Ask The Dust by Jesse Auersalo

Link: Jesse Auersalo
Link: Ninja Tune

The Brainfeeder-affiliated Lorn issued, his second album, Ask The Dust this week. Available via Ninja Tune (with a now sold out reel-to-reel edition and a version on cloudy grey vinyl), it boasts artwork from, Finnish illustrator, Jesse Auersalo.

Auersalo's imagery was previously used as part of Big Active's campaign for Mark Ronson's last long-player although this particular project sees him sticking to the moody monochromatic style that makes up a large part of his portfolio. Additionally the trompe l'oiel concept - evoking Magritte - and the plaster-like texture - adding a touch of de Chirico - makes the cover a beautifully-rendered surrealist work.

 

Jacques Greene - 'Prism' by Jeroen Erosie

Link: Jeroen Erosie 
Link: 3024
Link: Dummy interview

Release 019 on the 3024 label comes from, Canadian producer, Jacques Greene. The artwork is again courtesy of, label co-owner, Jeroen Erosie and continues the specific house style that he's developed through sleeves for the likes of Jon Convex, Mosca, Julio Bashmore and Redshape. As he revealed in an interview with Dummy magazine, he uses the final layer of the previous release for each new piece and has subsequently developed an interesting 3024 continuum within the complex patterns. The latest also appears to have brought in some letter forms with assumedly what is a 'J' and 'G' to correspond with the Greene's intials. The single is out July.

Nitemoves - Longlines by Jakub Alexander

Link: Jakub Alexander
Link: Moodgadget
Link: Nitemoves

Also known by the musician/DJ alias of Heathered Pearls while additionally the founder of Moodgadget Records and music curator of the respected IS050 blog, Jakub Alexander additionally completed artwork for Nitemoves' long-player.

An electronic opus from an individual previously spotted drumming with, two Ghostly-signed acts, Com Truise and Tycho, Longlines was first unleashed last month. Now that digital release is also joined by a limited edition cassette complete with bonus tracks. Its run of 100 copies should start shipping tomorrow.

This Dull Ache by Mark James Works

Link: Mark James
Link: This Dull Ache
Link: Cherrystones
Link: Rough Trade

A collaboration between producer/DJ Cherrystones and designer/artist Mark James, This Dull Ache is a lovingly packaged film project.

Boasting a DVD and 20 page booklet within a 10" sleeve, it's a piece that actually dates back to James' first solo show back in 2008 - although now re-worked [both re-edited and remixed] for its limited release. Additionally produced by Academy Films' Liz Kessler and edited by Ben Crook, it's now available to order from Rough Trade.

Shine 2009 artwork by Santtu Mustonen

Link: Santtuu Mustonen
Link: Santtuu Mustonen at Hugo & Marie
Link: Expo

Former industrial designer Santtu Mustonen switched disciplines following his experimention with 3D imaging software. His subsequent illustration work for releases by Shine 2009 then demonstrated a real flair for what he has dubbed "slightly moving images": with some beautiful textures and sophisticated colour palettes. And while one of the singles may have featured Paula Abdul, this is far removed from the kind of visual material that would more usually be associated with anyone on the same payroll as Simon Cowell.