Medeski Martin & Wood: The Dropper

The cover needs to honor the band’s music and personality, a recent trip to Brazil and the interest in New York City street subcultures. The band liked the idea of a “grimy” presentation much like graffiti, ripped posters and sniper stickers. Rather than scan a photo of a street it was better to fabricate the environment unique to the project. The band chose a photo panorama for the cover. Providing more information was the solution to prevent an awkward use of space between the photograph and type. Different visual textures—like wood, ink, metal and varnish—filled in the space, and the rest of the package followed naturally. It’s always the combination of well-placed details that make the package. My favorites include the Bosch-like animals, the rubberstamps and the provocative yet very fun Danny Clinch photographs.