RURA - Despite the Dark - Album Artwork

In the words of FOLKLUB ceo, David Foley..."Since the dawn of trad no album has ever taken as much blood, sweat and in ear monitors as 'Despite the Dark'"So RURA's difficult second album has turned out rather well, album artwork aside the band have reached further than a lot of their contemporaries would in terms of production, sonic experimentation and at points the album almost strays in to the realms of obscure prog folk. This I thoroughly endorse, more power to them, Ali Hutton and the forces of prog folk that compel them. The whole thing is well balanced with Adam Holmes providing excellent songs, the first of which sounds like it could be on an o2 advert any day soon. It is fair to say that the effort put in has paid off and that RURA have definitely found their voice.So in the end the final album cover was the complete opposite of what the original brief was. Like any other creative endeavour, developing album artwork should be a journey and this was no exception. In fact it was a total round-the-houses number (see developments at the bottom) but it matters not, we ended up with something that essentially retains the branding of the first album but builds on and refines the concept. Much like Porsche have the 911, RURA have their type and some sort of background. It's about evolution and this very much reflects in the band's music too. The final product here appears to just be a font placed on some rock but as the cover folds out it begins to take the look of terrain from the air, there's a magic lightning cloud fighting off the darkness. On the inside the viewer, now on the ground, is presented with the ever encroaching darkness swallowing up the rugged peaks. Ravens circle above, the light toils against the unending, relentless creep of the dark, will it be victorious? Will it fail and fall victim to the forces of evil? Who can say? Put the CD in, close your eyes and draw your own pictures.I also designed the website, the posters and took the photos. Schmo in one.XXBuy the album here http://www.rura.co.uk/shop/