Customer Reviews

Reasons To Be Cheerful: The Life and Work of Barney Bubbles

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Whether the book does Barney justice is for the reader to decide, since the man himself is no longer with us. But, anyone who appreciates Barney's work beforehand would be hard-pressed to find a reason why it wouldn't. The very act of compiling Bubbles' uncredited works, piecing together his life story, and sharing it with the world in book form is doing those who appreciate modern art, and record art in particular, a tremendous favor. That's worth four stars already.

Who here has noticed Barney's self-portrait in the Armed Forces package, or the profile on the cover of 4D Man? Gorman finds things you may have overlooked each time you saw them. That is why this is a terrific book, because it is neither just about Barney's life nor just his album covers. This book is about everything the man created -- including single sleeves, labels, furniture, sculpture, logos, even music! -- and the artistic sensibility that went into them.

Barney's fans know that an album's design is about far more than the cover; it's about the entire package. Gorman offers this in Reasons and expands upon it on his site devoted to Barney, where what couldn't fit into the book is documented. At the risk of sounding like an advertisement, any devotees of design and layout, typography, modern art, or punk/new wave must get this.

I had ordered this book based on reviews I'd read in the press. I was not at all familiar with Barney Bubbles the designer. I knew some of the images by Bubbles but the story and the context of his work is incredibly interesting. I was not prepared for the superb quality of both the book's design and the quality of scholarship and research put into it. This is a hardcover book with lots of text combined with images, and filled with stories from those who were part of the various scenes Barney had participated in. Printed in excellent paper. Musicians, fellow graphic designers (including Saville's intro), friends, all contribute to the story. Some online reviews elsewhere have stated that the book is somewhat lacking in theoretical terms; in my opinion this is not relevant in this case. This is the first comprehensive BB book in the market with tons of stories, that really place you "there".

Bubbles' life and work encompasses the late 60's and early (hippie) 70's as well as the punk rock and post-punk era. He is closely identified with early Elvis Costello among others. The book takes the reader from the beginning in the 60's up until the 80s when sadly, Bubbles took his own life. His work with Stiff records paralells what Peter Saville did for Factory yet Bubble's style is less "clean" and classic; constantly opening itself up and disgesting style culture quotations.

The work looks fresh and contemporary in a post-modern way; many styles and the acknowledgement of "style" a strong element in the work. There are marks and quotation of marks; images and reflections of images, puns. This is an instance when design has out-smarted "art" on many levels; it has functioned as visual culture, and has turned on itself to acknowledge its function. The immediacy of design and the medium of record covers is also an undercurrent of this book. It is very interesting to consider how much one has lived with one's records and how much one has been affected and reflected through them. This is recommended for music lovers, design fans, anyone interested in post-punk aesthetics, designers and artists of course.

This is a wonderful book, that seems to be hard to get in the UK. Covers the amazing life of Colin Fulcher AKA Barney Bubbles. Excellent reproduction of his contribution to art and design with a compelling back narrative that explains the designs and ideas and personalities involved. Inspirational stuff.