For enthusiasts of goth-rock and dream-pop from the '80s and '90s, the art of Vaughan Oliver is practically unavoidable.
The British graphic designer died December 29, 2019 at the age of 62, leaving behind a legacy of instantly-recognizable album covers from bands like Pixies, the Cocteau Twins, and plenty more. In 1982, he became the first employee of record label 4AD. Nowadays, the label's roster includes big-name alternative acts like the National, Grimes, Big Thief, and Deerhunter, but during their earlier years, 4AD played a crucial role in shaping the fabric of the indie offerings to come. As their in-house graphic designer, Oliver had a major hand in forming the label's visual aesthetic.
"Without Vaughan, 4AD would not be 4AD and it's no understatement to say that his style also helped to shape graphic design in the late-20th century," the label wrote on their website. Below, we remember Oliver with a list of the best and most significant album covers he designed.Modern English: After the Snow (1982)
By: Modern English / Blixa Sounds
One of Oliver's first sleeve designs was for British new-wave band Modern English. Their sophomore record features the single "I Melt With You," their most popular song to date.
▲This Mortal Coil: It’ll End In Tears (1984)
By: This Mortal Coil / 4AD
4AD founder Ivo Watts-Russell also formed This Mortal Coil, a collective that included the Cocteau Twins' Elisabeth Fraser and a rotating cast of musicians. Their dreamy, ambient debut, It'll End In Tears, is appropriately covered with a photo of a woman who appears to be suspended in water.
▲Pixies: Surfer Rosa (1988)
By: Pixies / 4AD
Pixies' critically-acclaimed debut LP features a topless flamenco dancer. Behind her—if you look closely—is a tiny crucified Jesus looking on. The album includes their hit "Where Is My Mind?"
▲Pixies: Doolittle (1989)
Pixies' second record followed shortly after their first, largely considered one of the best rock albums of all time. It was the first instance where Oliver had access to the lyrics before designing the cover, allowing its dark subject matter to resonate.
▲Lush: Spooky (1992)
By: Lush / 4AD
The cover of shoegaze legend Lush's first full album, Spooky, is pretty spooky indeed, centered around squiggly, DNA-like graphics. Shortly after its release, Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell personally requested the band to headline the festival.
▲The Breeders: Last Splash (1993)
By: The Breeders / 4AD
At the time of their second album, Last Splash, the Breeders were one of the poppiest, most upbeat bands on 4AD's roster. The cover for the record is similarly bright, featuring a bright red heart (or is it a strawberry?).
▲TV on the Radio: Return to Cookie Mountain (2006)
By: TV On The Radio / Interscope / Touch and Go /4AD
By the time Brooklyn rockers TV on the Radio released their second album, they'd already been praised by David Bowie. Its apocalyptic themes are presented on the cover, featuring a giant birds' nest and a font perfectly fit for a crime drama's theme credits.
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