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Kapital & Moral by Poing and Maja S.K. Ratkje

Contributed by Robin Mientjes on Aug 29th, 2016. Artwork published in
April 2016
.
Most of the text on the sleeve is set on a slope. This artificial slant was a bit of a shock to me – there is no italic style for Monumental Grotesk – but I’m fine with such manipulation when it works.
Photo: Robin Mientjes. License: All Rights Reserved.

Most of the text on the sleeve is set on a slope. This artificial slant was a bit of a shock to me – there is no italic style for Monumental Grotesk – but I’m fine with such manipulation when it works.

The pairing of Poing and Maja Ratkje is a very modern one: Ratkje is a contemporary singer and composer, and Poing travel the world as a mini-orchestra for hire. The topics of Kapital & Moral are all timeless. So it makes some sense, somehow, that Monumental Grotesk, a typeface based on 1930s styles, grounds it in a specific time.

Håvard Gjelseth, the art director, placed Kapital & Moral squarely in the past. Monumental Grotesk is paired with Lettera, a monospaced face that performs the part of a typewriter. The colour palette and typographic stylings are decidedly Bauhaus, and so it plays a fair bit older than its age.

Part of the promotion material includes a large silkscreened cardboard poster (wonderful work by Kjetil Brandsdal of Drid Machine). Monumental Grotesk is a loud and important part of the cover art. I’m happy to see it play a different tune than I imagined it for.

As is my habit, I like to recommend the music my typefaces promote. So, have a listen: Maja Ratkje and Poing perform John Lennon’s Working Class Hero.

[More info on Discogs]

Kapital & Moral by Poing and Maja S.K. Ratkje 2
Photo: Robin Mientjes. License: All Rights Reserved.
The slightly brutal, unrefined shapes of the Piet Zwart design work well in this overprinted silkscreen setting.
Photo: Robin Mientjes. License: All Rights Reserved.

The slightly brutal, unrefined shapes of the Piet Zwart design work well in this overprinted silkscreen setting.

Kapital & Moral by Poing and Maja S.K. Ratkje 4
Photo: Robin Mientjes. License: All Rights Reserved.
Kapital & Moral by Poing and Maja S.K. Ratkje 5
Håvard Gjelseth (photo) and Kjetil Brandsdal (silkscreen). License: All Rights Reserved.
Kapital & Moral by Poing and Maja S.K. Ratkje 6
Håvard Gjelseth (photo) and Kjetil Brandsdal (silkscreen). License: All Rights Reserved.
Kapital & Moral by Poing and Maja S.K. Ratkje 7
Håvard Gjelseth (photo) and Kjetil Brandsdal (silkscreen). License: All Rights Reserved.

Typefaces

  • Monumental Grotesk
  • LL Lettera Mono

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