A new book documents over two decades of Rocket Recordings’ independent album artwork

British record label Rocket Recordings, run by Chris Reeder and John O’Carroll, has been a fan favourite imprint for well over two decades. To mark over a quarter of a century, the record label has launched Out of the Void, a limited edition compendium collating Rocket Recording’s album art from its founding in 1998 to 2024, featuring a foreword from Stewart Lee.

The project took around a year to complete, with Chris curating, editing and designing the book alongside his day-to-day record label responsibilities. “What made the process truly emotional was taking the time to reflect on our past,” he says. “As a label owner, you’re always focused on the future, so you rarely get the chance to look back.” In the process of dusting off 25-year-old hard drives, Chris discovered more he bargained for. “I came across rejected design ideas, photos from past events, and memories of people we no longer see,” he says. “It became a journey of reflection, and it really drove home just how much we had accomplished over the 26 years of running the label.”

This eclectic collection of artwork became the inspiration for the book’s design, including its scale and dimensions. Still, it also brought with it challenges: How would they create a catalogue that didn’t feel repetitive and championed the art? “Since we work with a diverse range of artists across various music genres,” Chris continues, “it was important to highlight this diversity, ensuring the key releases stood out and felt distinct.”

So, Chris determined a rigorous, flexible grid system that allowed him to create fluid visual contrast through the book, featuring pull-out spreads, full-bleed imagery, and smaller thumbnail photography. “The book just designed itself, if I am completely honest,” he says, with each spread naturally falling into place. “The goal was for each page turn to feel like a fresh discovery, ensuring the finished book was an enjoyable and dynamic experience.”

Reflecting on the past 26 years, Chris reveals how tricky it is to pick a favourite from their vast, vibrant assortment of records. “I have an emotional connection with every sleeve, even those I didn’t design myself,” he says. “If I had to pick just one, though, it would probably be an obvious choice of Goat’s World Music,” a hugely significant record for the label and an album with a tumultuous creative background. Having originally planned to license a set of photos for the front and back cover, the project took a sharp turn. “Just a week before the artwork was due to be sent to the printer, the photographer got cold feet and decided not to let us use the images,” Chris says. “I had to pivot quickly and come up with something else,” resulting in the psychedelic pattern that we see today. “The sleeve’s anonymity also fits perfectly with the band’s own anonymity and mysterious image,” he adds. “At the end of the day, I was very happy that we were let down at the last minute by the photographer,” Chris ends, “as that sleeve direction would never have had as much impact as what we went with in the end.”

Out Of The Void – The Art Of Rocket Recordings: 1998 – 2024 is available to buy now.