We Are The Night - artwork

[satur8]

What is the official story with the artwork for We Are The Night? I see bits and pieces through different threads. Anyone feel like elaborating in one shot?

[Csar]

I'm not sure whether there has ever been made an official statement about it. But the most likely issue with WATN's artwork is its strong similarity/resemblance with Herbert Bayer's picture Things to Come from 1938 (and Lonely Metropolitan from 1932) by which it was apparently inspired.

https://www.moma.org/collection/works/7524?locale=en


http://metmuseum.org/exhibitions/view?exhibitionId=%7B36d81705-241d-4934-ab02-fd7c8dbbb3e5%7D&oid=302020

[satur8]

Thanks Csar. Yeah...that is beyond inspiration, so I can see the issue if arrangements weren't made. However, I have follow up questions for you or whomever.

The art you showed is just hands. My CD has the hands with a backdrop. Were both covers released?

Also, was this reissue cover ever released prior to the new vinyl?

[Csar]

The art you showed is just hands. My CD has the hands with a backdrop. Were both covers released?

There was an early draft of WATN's artwork that was used for its Promo version in 2007. I loved it so much that I had to get it. I was lucky back then when it showed up on the bay for a few bucks.

https://www.discogs.com/de/The-Chemical-Brothers-We-Are-The-Night/release/1028591

Also, was this reissue cover ever released prior to the new vinyl?

Yes, CD versions with this cover have been released, at least in Europe, since I guess 2008.
https://www.discogs.com/de/Chemical-Brothers-We-Are-The-Night/release/2241058

Only this version is sold these days. I don't know about other regions, but the delay of this time's reissue in the US also hints at copyright issues in other countries.

[Enjoyed]

What the heck! I just clicked the Discogs link for the re-release and it lists Little Barrie as a guitarist on Do It Again. I had no idea. Their (his) first couple of albums are brilliant.
What a fun fact.