Exalt Records — record label artwork
Design and artwork for Exalt Records since the label relaunched in 2018 until their final release in 2024.
The first relaunch releases (at the bottom of the page) were strictly limited vinyl white labels with an insert — single colour tracing paper initially and then full colour wrap-around paper. The more recent releases mostly feature full colour printed sleeves and label art but keep the aesthetic established by those earlier releases.
Various artists – THE END Exalt 000
Exalt Records final release, going out in style with a triple vinyl, double CD and four 12" dubplates, see more of this project.
XDB – Total Exalt Mix
Limited edition CD mix housed in a clear wallet with white ink sticker featuring imagery of deconstructed architecture.
Various artists – Exalt Records Xmas Dubplates 2021 #1—5 (Sight, Touch, Smell, Taste and Sound)
Limited edition set of five 10" dubplates with hand screen printed inserts. Imagery based on something that evokes each of our five senses.
Ever Vivid – States of Being Exalt 002
Double vinyl album in gatefold sleeve, more on this design here.
Paul Hierophant – Utopian Dystopias (Part Three) Exalt 008.2
The final part of Utopian Dystopias, featuring full colour sleeve, coloured vinyl and double sided insert. Paul had written a short story inspired by the themes explored on the trilogy that ended up on the insert, this was great inspiration for the artwork. Three planets feature on the cover and insert in reference to the trilogy of releases.
Darren Nye – Fading Memories Exalt 013
Based on conversations with Darren about the music, I started exploring a cold/frozen aesthetic and came across some lovely aerial images of icebergs. They seemed a perfect fit for the concept... global warming and the fact most of an iceberg is below the surface (there's more to the music than meets the eye/ear). The colours of the ice underwater, disappearing into the darkness is emphasised by the added texture of a CRT screen, making us the viewers of these ice giants as they melt away (like Fading Memories).
Various Artists – Exalt Birthday Dubplates Exalt Records BDP#1–6
A very limited set of six dubplates released to mark Jamie Exalt's birthday. Screen printed imagery is based on abstracted images of the six sides of a dice.
Russ Gabriel – Ancestors / Aurology Exalt 001 / 001.5
The stylised "A" on the covers link these albums that were released simultaneously, a family tree for Ancestors and a geometric letterform for Aurology.
The Hidden Figure – Finality EP Exalt Records Special Edition 02
The Hidden Figure is an alias for an established mystery artist. This inspired the corrupted CCTV style imagery of a shadowy, unknown figure for this limited edition 12".
Morphology – Qualia EP Exalt 005
Full colour 12" paper insert with imagery inspired by the artist name.
Paul Hierophant – Utopian Dystopias (Part Two) Exalt 008.1
The second Utopian Dystopias EP, this time we discussed a more optimistic mood for the artwork. Part One (shown further down the page) was fittingly dystopian, this one is more about hope. Also the first use of colour on an Exalt Records insert, giving the sleeve an added dimension but still keeping the label's aesthetic. I love coming up with imagery when there's a solid concept behind a release and a story to interpret.
SCN1 – Daybreak EP Exalt 006
Postcard insert for a limited edition two track 7", printed on black card with white ink. The front features graffiti artwork by Hanal, and ScanOne's own graffiti tag on the back.
Paul Hierophant – Utopian Dystopias (Part One) Exalt 008
12" paper insert featuring a lone spaceship leaving a giant planet, is this the end or a new beginning?
Steven Rutter – Light From The Dark EP Exalt 009
7" single colour insert printed on tracing paper for a two track EP from one half of B12 and the boss of FireScope Records. The title and atmospheres of the tracks gave me plenty of inspiration for the artwork. Cover photograph by Joe Schulz.
Russ Gabriel – Planet Discovery Exalt 004
A slight tip of the hat to Licensed To Ill and the Space Shuttle Discovery.
The Hidden Figure – Silhouettes Exalt 007
Full colour labels featuring a classic acid-house smiley. Random and increasingly off-axis circles spin out of control, the vortex forcing the typography out through the graphics. Released in a bright yellow sleeve with sticker and in a choice of either clear or smokey marbled vinyl.
Swayzak vs Theorem – Break In At Apartment 205 Exalt Records Special Edition
Reissue of an EP that first appeared on M_nus in 1999. The rainy window of an inner city flat summed up the mood of the title track perfectly. Photography by Gabriele Diwald.
Norken + Nyquist – Go Polonius Exalt 010
10” vinyl EP by Lee Norris and Frank Rumpelt. The brief called for a theme of an Atari ST, a 1980s computer which has enjoyed enduring appeal amongst electronic music producers. From there I started to explore vintage technology, circuit boards and music studio equipment. Original photograph by Galen Crout.
Future Beat Alliance – Black Acid Exalt 012
Limited edition 10” blue vinyl with a single colour tracing paper insert. A retouched image of an unknown forested mountain side evoking the dark brooding nature of the music.
WRNR – Svæv EP Exalt 011
7" white vinyl with tracing paper insert. Ice flows and the cold of the Arctic circle convey the mood of the tracks. Limited to just 50 copies.
John Shima – Discreet Exalt 014
7" green vinyl with tracing paper insert.
G.R.I.T. – KALMADS E.P. Exalt 016
Lathe cut clear 7", the first release for the relaunched label, single colour tracing paper insert and screen printed t-shirt. Imagery influenced by light filtered through trees in a forest.
