In the summer of 2024, I semi-retired from the creative industry. Like any artist, I have no intention of stopping my work anytime soon, but I now have the time to focus on a few long-standing projects that have been on hold for far too long, without the constraints of commercial or client demands.
As a lifelong music enthusiast, particularly a fan of electronic music, one of the bands I have followed since the early 1970s is Tangerine Dream. Over the past 50 years, they have produced some of the most incredible electronic music I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. Their extensive back catalogue includes hundreds of releases, not to mention countless bootleg recordings. While a few of their album covers have become iconic due to the wonderful art and photography of Monika Froese, the majority lean toward abstract designs.
With this in mind, I set out to redesign all their official album covers, aiming for a more pictorial style, with a few exceptions. I also wanted to better understand the meaning behind each album title and the thoughts of Edgar Froese, Tangerine Dream’s visionary leader. To inform my redesigns, I conducted thorough research using resources such as Tangerine Dream’s official site, Prog archives, Wikipedia, Discogs, blogs, synthesiser forums, and, most importantly, Froese’s autobiography, Force Majeure, published shortly before his untimely passing in 2015.
Given the sheer volume of their work, I wanted to bring a sense of continuity to the design and typography while still giving each album’s artwork a unique feel. At the same time, I have often paid homage to the original artwork, either in style or through the colour palette. Having managed my own creative business for over 30 years, I’ve had the privilege of designing for well-known companies and publishing hundreds of book covers worldwide. My professional training in graphic design, illustration, and photography—along with staying up to date on advancements like A.I. while maintaining traditional skills—has given me the flexibility to approach each album cover without preconceived notions. Often, I’ve found myself combining all these skills to bring the designs to life.
While my use of A.I. on a few occasions may upset some traditionalists, I am old enough to have experienced many shifts in the creative industry and all the politics that came with them. While I in no way condone the abuse of copyright by big data industries, I also do not intend to bury my head in the sand. A.I. is another tool, and when used correctly, it can achieve amazing results. Once integrated and adapted to a particular art style, it often leads to unexpected creative paths.
I’m aware that not all of the redesigned covers will appeal to everyone, but my aim has been to make each one visually representative of the album’s title or themes when possible rather than sticking to purely abstract designs. As more past works are officially released—particularly soundtracks seeing the light of day for the first time—and with Edgar’s protégé, Thorsten Quaeschning, continuing the band’s legacy with new recordings and tours, the scope of this project continues to grow.
Completing this personal project will take time, but I hope you’ll check back occasionally as I strive to keep pace with designing covers for both past and future releases. All my artwork is created in the traditional 30 cm x 30 cm (12 x 12 inch) format, staying true to the classic vinyl album cover dimensions. All artwork is my own, except for a few covers where I have used stock or public domain photos and retouched them where required.
I will be uploading new covers regularly, so I hope that you will return once in a while to see what's new. I look forward to any comments.
As a lifelong music enthusiast, particularly a fan of electronic music, one of the bands I have followed since the early 1970s is Tangerine Dream. Over the past 50 years, they have produced some of the most incredible electronic music I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. Their extensive back catalogue includes hundreds of releases, not to mention countless bootleg recordings. While a few of their album covers have become iconic due to the wonderful art and photography of Monika Froese, the majority lean toward abstract designs.
With this in mind, I set out to redesign all their official album covers, aiming for a more pictorial style, with a few exceptions. I also wanted to better understand the meaning behind each album title and the thoughts of Edgar Froese, Tangerine Dream’s visionary leader. To inform my redesigns, I conducted thorough research using resources such as Tangerine Dream’s official site, Prog archives, Wikipedia, Discogs, blogs, synthesiser forums, and, most importantly, Froese’s autobiography, Force Majeure, published shortly before his untimely passing in 2015.
Given the sheer volume of their work, I wanted to bring a sense of continuity to the design and typography while still giving each album’s artwork a unique feel. At the same time, I have often paid homage to the original artwork, either in style or through the colour palette. Having managed my own creative business for over 30 years, I’ve had the privilege of designing for well-known companies and publishing hundreds of book covers worldwide. My professional training in graphic design, illustration, and photography—along with staying up to date on advancements like A.I. while maintaining traditional skills—has given me the flexibility to approach each album cover without preconceived notions. Often, I’ve found myself combining all these skills to bring the designs to life.
While my use of A.I. on a few occasions may upset some traditionalists, I am old enough to have experienced many shifts in the creative industry and all the politics that came with them. While I in no way condone the abuse of copyright by big data industries, I also do not intend to bury my head in the sand. A.I. is another tool, and when used correctly, it can achieve amazing results. Once integrated and adapted to a particular art style, it often leads to unexpected creative paths.
I’m aware that not all of the redesigned covers will appeal to everyone, but my aim has been to make each one visually representative of the album’s title or themes when possible rather than sticking to purely abstract designs. As more past works are officially released—particularly soundtracks seeing the light of day for the first time—and with Edgar’s protégé, Thorsten Quaeschning, continuing the band’s legacy with new recordings and tours, the scope of this project continues to grow.
Completing this personal project will take time, but I hope you’ll check back occasionally as I strive to keep pace with designing covers for both past and future releases. All my artwork is created in the traditional 30 cm x 30 cm (12 x 12 inch) format, staying true to the classic vinyl album cover dimensions. All artwork is my own, except for a few covers where I have used stock or public domain photos and retouched them where required.
I will be uploading new covers regularly, so I hope that you will return once in a while to see what's new. I look forward to any comments.
