Best Album Covers of 2012
Remezcla has put together a collection of this year’s Best Album Covers of 2012 by Latin artists. There are 12 to gaze at, so check them all out!
12. Music Never Dies, M.A.K.U. SoundSystem
Art by The Peeps
[USA/Colombia]
Somebody (or a group of somebodies) that goes by the penname of The Peeps drew and designed this inspired cover for the New York-based Colombian sound system M.A.K.U. You can easily get lost staring at it, specially if you know a thing or two about Northern Colombia’s street life, cumbia, and carnaval. Fortunately, it was also pressed on limited edition 12” vinyl EP so you can actually look at every single tiny detail for hours. Anybody who loves Colombia should have this album framed on their wall. -JD
11. Sueño de la Maquina, Kinky
Art by Carlos Etcheverry
[Mexico]
As we’ve stated before, it’s real sweet to see Kinky living up to their name. In previous years and album covers, the electro-rock quintet have left album covers simple typically imprinting their name scripted smack-dab in the middle, or just a band shot of them. This year, Kinky brings artist Carlos Etcheverry into the platform and gives us plenty of eye candy. Not only are there two aroused-looking, masked cartoony ladies wearing bikinis and black nipple pasties, but every square centimeter you look at is a unkept field of über-enchantment. -IR
10. Go Hard Or Go Home, Wagoner
Art by Smithe Papas
[Mexico]
From their very beginnings, the Mexican electro trio Wagoner had a very clear aesthetic concept for their futuristic image. The main artist behind all their design work is Smithe Papas who mixes an urban spray can background with comic book style drawings on the striking covers of Wagoner’s two digital EPs of 2012. Can’t wait to see what this guy can do on an official, physical album. -JD
9. Motel, Banda UÓ
[Brazil]
2012 is the way of the (apocalyptic) future, or when this notion will end, perhaps. With the years gone by, we’ve awaited for the coming of 2012, whether because pop culture hyped it up or your favorite prophets and deities did centuries ago. Nonetheless, Brazilian tecno brega trio Banda UÓ goes the intergalactic way with an ’80s aesthetic in this featured cartoon album cover. They still remain true to their kinky selves with sexual gestures present and our lovely trans-lady displaying three tits like that of a goddess. -IR
8. Future Sounds of Buenos Aires, Zizek Collective
Art by Jacob Escobedo
[Argentina]
Simple but very effective, the design for ZZK‘s latest comp was done by Jacob Escobedo who has also done art for international artists like The Shins and Gnarls Barkley, among many others. It doesn’t explicitly reference Buenos Aires or the ñu-cumbia experience, and to be fair, it sorta looks more retro than futuristic, but it’s just a beautiful piece of art worth hanging on an art gallery wall. The vinyl pressing is delicious. -JD
7. Un Pokito de Rocanrol, Bebe
Photo by Rafa Fallar
[Spain]
In recent years, we’ve seen a rise of masked musicians and producers like Dengue Dengue Dengue, Mexicans With Guns, Daft Punk, Austin TV, A Band of Bitches, among countless others. But it’s not everyday you see a pop female singer (who’s attractive if I may add) wear a bull skull as a mask. Ok, we all know it’s not really her signature to veil her face in that manner, but let me say this was a very nice and relieving move. You will think so too because you are annoyed and tired of female pop stars who have their faces consistently airbrushed and photoshoped to look decent in album covers. Bebe doesn’t care about such things, nor does she care about correctly spelling “poquito,” and that’s why we give her two thumbs up! -IR
6. High Noon, The Funk Ark
Art by Matthew Curry
[USA]
You can tell, right away, this cover was meant to be on a 12″ hard jacket around a vinyl LP. Unfortunately, the album has not yet been released in that format, but it’s still in The Funk Ark’s plans, the band tells us. The retro visuals for this Afro-Latin-funk album, produced by Adrián Quesada, was done by Matthew Curry from The Neal Ashby Design Firm who does a lot of work for Thievery Corporation and other ESL label-mates. -JD
5. 1er Acto, Esteman
Photo by Andrés Bermudez, Design by Creadores & co. & Maria Cardona
[Colombia]
This album cover stands out in many ways, just like Esteman‘s languid and clean-cut pose, captured by photographer Andrés Bermudez. There isn’t a ton of eclectic imagery that’s straining for the eye, nor are there a goulash of overwhelming colors. Instead, you find four solid shades, straight lines and shapes, and everything else that follows is as crisp as a new dollar bill. But honestly, the Colombian singer’s confident posture and graceful leap as he holds the mic says it all. This is simplicity with retro coolness at its best. -IR
4. Chances, Illya Kuryaki & The Valderramas
Photo by Hernán Corera, Design by Pogo
[Argentina]
These guys love boobs (don’t we all?). That was already established on the controversial cover of their 1999 release, aptly titled Leche. For their comeback album, Illya Kuryaki & The Valderramas amped up the fetish and went from one to seven pairs of nipples, plus plenty of more female epidermic exposure in the booklet. Under the artistic direction of the reunited Argentine funk duo themselves, the packaging was designed by the Pogo design studio and the photography was done by Hernán Corera. -JD
3. Elegancia Tropical, Bomba Estéreo
Art by Tatiana Arocha
[Colombia]
What do you imagine when you think of tropical elegance? I don’t know about you but artist Tatiana Arocha captured the right idea in this vivid interpretation of a luscious and pristine rainforest, depicted in Bomba Estéreo‘s latest album. A rainforest has never looked so moist, soothing, sultry, and sexy. This is absolutely marvelous. -IR
2. Ondatrópica, Ondatrópica
Art by Lewis Heriz (Booklet photos by Mochilla’s B+)
[Colombia]
Arguably the most historically significant Latin album released in 2012, Ondatrópica (Frente Cumbiero + Quantic and a who-is-who of Colombian music luminaries) has also one of the most visually attractive packages ever, including a beautifully designed booklet with lots of amazing photos by Mochilla‘s B+. The cover art was done by Lewis Heriz who has also designed LP covers for Los Míticos Del Ritmo (another Colombian music exploration by Quantic, released earlier this year) and Batida, all of them released on high-quality vinyl by the UK’s Soundway Records. -JD
1. Ves Lo Que Quieres Ver, Bareto
Photo by Versus Photo, Design by ma+go
[Peru]
This is the real deal. No excessively underweight pretty models, no over-the-top photo shoot production, and no pretentious mirrreybook band shots. The collective behind Versus Photo takes an amazing and breath-taking panoramic shot of a normal yet crowded day at the beach in Lima in Peruvian band Bareto‘s album cover Ves Lo Que Quieres Ver, under the art design direction of ma+go. Not only is this a stellar picture and album cover, but the images in the physical album is a cultural experience where one can almost feel like one’s engaging with Peru’s multi-diverse population. All differences are stripped away here and one can enjoy a beautiful day in this South American shore just by staring at this album cover. Heck, it’s even summer over there right now. Not to mention, if you look closely, you’ll also notice the band members within the crowd. Absolute genius. -IR