Nick Taylor - Different Strokes’ Art Guy
Nick Taylor is an illustrator and graphic designer based in Nottinghamshire, with clients including Bonnier Books, Universal Music, The Guardian and LA Times. He is Different Strokes’ design wing, shaping the aesthetic and rebuilding each archival release. His current obsessions are J-horror movies, Ursula Le Guin and music with flutes in. http://nicktaylorillustration.co.uk
Insta: @nickillustratesthings
‘As with most "favourite" selections, these are always in flux, but here's 5 big ones that blew my mind and continue to leave an impression on me.’
Beastie Boys – Paul's Boutique (Capitol, 1989)
‘One of the very first hip-hop records I picked up in my mid-teens and one which opened up a whole new world to me, a crumb-trail through funk, soul, jazz and beyond. The patchwork sound-collage of the Dust Brothers is a history lesson in itself, and the beginning of my sample-spotting obsession. The Beasties represented pure creativity for me, stylistically diverse, boundary-pushing and always acknowledging the shoulders upon which they stood.’
The United States of America – S/T (CBS, 1968)
‘This record has become somewhat of a benchmark for psychedelic records for me, first put on my radar via the mixtapes of another favourite band, Broadcast. It ticks all the boxes, mixing avant-garde electronics, modern composition, kaleidoscopic psychedelia and snarling garage rock to bewitching effect. Dorothy Moskowitz's soaring vocals add the finishing touch to this true alchemy of sound.’
Tongues of Light – The Myth of Separation and Selfhood (Pre-Cert Home Entertainment, 2020)
‘A blind Boomkat purchase at the time, this has become an all-time favourite. The work of Sam McLoughlin, lo-fi musical polymath behind Samandtheplants, amongst many others, Tongues of Light is built around samples of people speaking in tongues. The rapturous vocal expressions are lifted into another realm with the help of Sam's transcendental soundscapes, landing somewhere between new age enlightenment and ancient ritual. Sublime!’
Les McCann – Invitation to Openness (Atlantic, 1972)
‘A deep, semi-improvised cosmic jazz-funk session led by Les' glassine Rhodes piano and bolstered by Yusef Lateef, Cornell Dupree and Bernard Purdie amongst other musical heavyweights. This record is all about the energy captured, and the feeling you could be in the room while these heavy jams are being laid down. An early find during the aforementioned sample-seeking days, where every musician's name mentioned on the sleeve presented a gateway to a new universe of sound!’
The Sabres of Paradise – Haunted Dancehall (Warp, 1994)
‘An early record that really stood out amongst the breaks and beats I was obsessed with, Weatherall and co creating a uniquely dark, cinematic sonic universe. The soundtrack to my college days, traversing the mean streets of, erm, Mansfield and the beginning of my Warp obsession. I've always loved how Weatherall could take diverse influences and really meld them into something truly unique, I have him to thank for subsequent forays into dub, electro, post-punk and beyond!’