Artwork and Packaging
The artwork for Blur, as well the albums associated singles, was designed by design company, Yacht Associates which consists of Chris Thomson and Richard Bull. The pair had also been involved in the design process for Blur's previous album covers as part of Stylorouge. The cover-art depicts a patient being rushed into an emergency ward. Searching for an image which conveyed "both optimism and scariness", Yacht Associates chose the stock photo from Tony Stone Images, describing it as "an anaesthetic dream." In 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, reviewer Mark Bennett speculates that the cover-art represented the band's critical status prior to the album.
The back cover and inside sleeve by Paul Postle depict sulphur fields in Iceland, where much of the album was recorded. Postle also took photos of the band rehearsing for the gatefold. Blur is also the groups first album not to have lyrics and chords printed in the liner notes, instead having a composite photo of the band in the studio spread out over three panels. When questioned on this decision, Albarn revealed they "didn't wanna have to go through explaining what the lyrics are about because they're quite odd to explain," although he stated that ""Death of a Party" and "Strange News From Another Star" are pretty clear."
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