An cultivated archive featuring Dave Little's hand designed record sleeves from the late 80's to early 90's.
Featuring classic designs for Bomb the base and Rhythm King.
S'EXPRESS - ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/20_s_express2_480x480.jpg?v=1625135999)
Rhythm King 1989
Mark Moore wanted a 'Tamara De Lempicka' feel in the background
I was asked to show my work to Blurs manager David Balfe and he told me personally it was his favourite sleeve ever.
Method: Airbrush and watercolour.
S'EXPRESS - HEY MUSIC LOVER
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/32_s_expess2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136007)
1989 Rhythm King Records
Early computer enhanced photograph. Created by capturing group members reflection on "mirror-foil” with video camera then playing footage onto tv.
The TV screen is then distorted by a magnet, a photo taken , then enhanced using early hybrid computer system @IMAGINE in Ganton St SOHO,
who where famous for work on PINK FLOYD’S sleeves.
Method: Very very early computer graphics - ‘scanned’ by a video camera with separate R/G/B lens.
Finished result scanned from a 35mm slide hence the low resolution.
RENEGADE SOUNDWAVE - KRAY TWINS
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/10_renegade_kray_twins2_de3f2963-ad69-47fa-9b0b-ae8a40ed6b01_480x480.jpg?v=1625136043)
Rhythm King 1986
Gary Asquith had an unpublished photo of Reggie Kray having a funfight with his grandad in the family kitchen. He was an extended family member…. Rumour has it the Krays were not pleased.
Method: Airbrush , ink and watercolour.
RENEGADE SOUNDWAVE - COCAINE SEX
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/11_renegade_cocainesex2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136051)
Rhythm King 1987
I photographed the boys at their recording studio under a single light bulb…
After printing I completely re-airbrushed their faces incorporating many visual references.
Method: Airbrush , ink and watercolour.
RENEGADE SOUNDWAVE - BITING MY NAILS
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/12_renegade_biting_my_nails2_176b3b8a-63bd-4308-9a26-a650e67fa383_480x480.jpg?v=1625136061)
Rhythm King 1988
Carl Bonnie and Danny Danny Briottet asked me to use a Balinese Devil mask on the front cover. The base speakers were a constant feature…This was the last sleeve I created for the group…
Method: Hand rendered , Airbrush and Rotring ink pen.
BOMB THE BASS - SAY A LITTLE PRAYER
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/05_say_a_little_prayer2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136071)
Released by Rhythm King in ’88
As a name, Bomb the Bass came from Simenon's approach to collaging and mixing sounds whilst DJing in the mid to late 1980s. He loved collage and very early computer graphics. I came up with using Albrecht Durer’s “Praying Hands” woodcut. The background is a Sony Walkman internals.
Method: Very early computer graphics - 'scanner' was a video camera with separate RGB lens. Finished result on a 35mm slide hence the low resolution.
JIBARO ELECTRA - BALEARIC BEATS
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/01_baleric_beats2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136031)
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/02_jibaro_electra2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136015)
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/02_jibaro_blue_480x480.jpg?v=1625136023)
Released by FFRR in Sept '88
Compiled by Paul Oakenfold, Pete Tong and Trevor Fung. Design taken from the 'Spectrum' flyer. This was ‘pre-computer’ so the different colours where achieved by swapping colour negatives to achieve the green-red-blue designs
Method: Hand rendered , Airbrush and Rotring ink pen.
BOMB THE BASS - INTO THE DRAGON
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/06_bomb_the_base2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136086)
Released by Rhythm King in ’88
Tim had a Japanese background and was a keen collector of very early 'Manga’ comics. I’d never seen this artform so after collecting reference this was the end design.
Method: Hand rendered , Airbrush and Rotring ink pen with handmade film transfers.
Megablast
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/megablast_480x480.jpg?v=1625136093)
Megablast - Bomb The Bass
GRACE UNDER PRESSURE - MAKE MY DAY
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/04_grace_under_pressure2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136099)
Released in '92 by ARS Productions
Illustration based on WW2 Bomber Art.
Method: Hand rendered, Airbrush and Rotring ink pen.
BOCA JUNIORS - RAISE
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/14_bocca_joniors2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136105)
Released through BOP/FFRR in 1990
Based on the infamous American flag raising on Iwo Jima during the 2WW.
I chose just 2 colours and a striking stripe b’ground. Street posters looked awesome next to the over complicated designs of the time.
Method: Hand rendered ,Rotring ink pen
BOY'S OWN - HOUSE SLEEVE
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/13_boys_own_productions2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136112)
London Records 1990
This was the Boys Own promo sleeve as briefed by terry Farley and simon Eccles. There was 3 designs….HEAR no evil, SEE no evil, SPEAK no evil.
Blind embossed and printed onto reversed board.
Method: Hand rendered. Rotring ink pen and PMT flat camera artwork.
Modigraphic typeset lettering.
COWBOY
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/15_cowboy_records2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136121)
12" HOUSE SLEEVE
Designed for Charlie Chester of Flying Records fame. 1992.
Designed for Charlie Chester of Flying Records fame. 1992.
Method: Printed on reverse board. Centre label is a Rotring pen illustration.
THE ADVENT - SHADED ELEMENTZ
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/30_advent2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136130)
Released by INTERNAL RECORDS 1996
Bizarrely Cisco Ferreira and Colin McBean’s studio where a mere 30 metres down the corridor at CANALOT Production studious where I was based.
The idea for the Robot Head was agreed and a model produced as nearly every sleeve then was now being computer rendered.
It was my opposition to this and great fun to create.
Method: Built using fibreglass and a display case from a taxidermist.
FLOWERED UP - A LIFE WITH BRIAN
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/09_flowered_up_lp2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136141)
Released by FFRR/LONDON RECORDS 1991
I was intro’d to the band before they where signed by Paul Oakenfold. When signed they asked me to create there sleeve featuring this photo.
Method: Hand rendered , Airbrush,Rotring ink pen and photo montage.
KID GALAHAD - GOLD DUST NOISE
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/18_kid_galahad_lp2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136150)
Released by Ignition Records 2002
Inspiration came from my own 1964 American Motocross helmet.
Method: Built using glass head & helmet/fairy lights. Very early digital photography
BASSOMATIC - EASE ON BY
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/19_bassomattic2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136157)
Released on William Orbits own label, Guerilla Records in 1990
I was a great fan of Williams work and I was asked to design the cover and guerrilla logo (below) for his own label. I took a very slow exposure of piano wires moving in front of a blue lit b'ground…
Overlaying 3 exposures, this was the result.
Method: Photo montage and Flat camera ready a/work.
SILVAH BULLET - JEWELZ AND DIAMONDZ
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/21_silvah_bullet2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136166)
Released by Artthrob in 1998
Photo was taken by the amazing Mick O' Farrell at Revolver Creative
Typography was printed out the roughed with scalpel and Sellotape.
Method: Hand rendered , Early digital photo. Early computer illustrator programme
ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/23_alice_wonderland2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136175)
SHERYL GARRAT 1994
Written by Editor of 'The Face’ magazine as definitive account of the birth of Club Culture. I was honoured with a big mention in the introduction and the narrative itself.
Written by Editor of 'The Face’ magazine as definitive account of the birth of Club Culture. I was honoured with a big mention in the introduction and the narrative itself.
Method: Flat a/w with early MAC rendering. Photo by Charles Pycraft.
XPLICIT VINYL
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/29_xplicit2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136182)
12" HOUSE SLEEVE
House sleeve for an offshoot of Flying Records.
House sleeve for an offshoot of Flying Records.
Method: Flat a/w with early MAC rendering. Hand drawn illustration.
FLYING VINYL
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/33_flyin_vynil2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136190)
12" HOUSE SLEEVE 1991
Pen & ink illustration to produce camera a/w.
Designed for Charlie Chester of Flying Records fame.
Method: Printed on reverse board. Centre label is a Rotring pen illustration.
2 colour Printed on reverse board. Modigraphic type.
THE ALOOF - NEVER GET OUT THE BOAT
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0511/1198/5343/files/31_the_aloof2_480x480.jpg?v=1625136199)
Released by Flaw Recordings in 1994
Band leader and good freind Dean Thatcher asked for a ‘crazed world’ on the cover. Deans caricature is on the far right.
Method: Hand rendered ,Rotring ink pen . Early mac computer illustrator programme