Julia Guther.

I used to follow the Morr Music label pretty closely. Their “Blue Skied An’ Clear” compilation is still a classic, in my opinion. One of the few compilations in my collection that can stand up to “Lonely Is An Eyesore,” “Some Bizarre” “Artificial Intelligence 2,” and “This Is Electronic Body Music” as a definitive snapshot of the moment it was released (I know I’m exposing myself to some embarrassment here).

At the time of that release, Morr Music’s roster was pretty incestuous and their design was single-handedly masterminded by Human Empire, the Hamburg-based design firm headed by Jan Kruse. One of the things I loved about the label was the consistent quality of the design – Human Empire’s covers were always playful and minimal and often contrasted with the melancholia on the discs within.

At some point in the last few years (I haven’t followed Morr’s progression that closely), Julia Guther has started doing many of the sleeves for Morr releases and has managed to maintain the same feel as the earlier work while adding a new dimension or two. Her work often seems to incorporate paper models and 3D typography to remarkable effect. I’m still discovering her work, so I can’t speak with much authority, but I have become a huge admirer. (continued after image)

Among other things, she designed the Sendak-esque “Still Night, Still Light,” for Au Revoir Simone, which is really stunning if you’ve seen the 10″ vinyl pressing. My favorite of her work so far, though, is the layout for the recent Bobby And Blum release, “Everybody Loves Bobby And Blumm.”

- Ryan