Music advert analysis

This is the album advertisement for Mumford and sons’ album ‘sigh no more’ who are a folk rock band. The band have given an indication of what appeals to the general fans of this genre, the advert is very simple but effective. The main image consists of four separate images which look like photographs taken with a Polaroid camera due to the colour and effect that they have on them. The use of the Polaroid photos has connotations of old school which helps support the image that the band has and the way that an audience sees them.

Character- Each member of the band has an equal amount of space on the advert which could suggest that they are all as important to the band as one another. They are wearing shirts and waistcoats, this highlights the folk genre within their music as this is what you would generally see them wearing. They are also wearing clothes that could be considered country as they are wearing checked shirts and braces. Two of the members of the band have been photographed using direct address with the camera; this will draw audiences in and make them interested in what the advert is about.

Narrative events- The images on the advert make it clear that they are in the country; which has connotations of peace and freeness. This could suggest that they might be experiencing a quiet day out with their friends away from their everyday routines. There is also faded images of them all together, this could also suggest that they are alone and spending some time with one another. The props that they are situated with also suggest that they are having a day out although they are still involving their music. It could suggest that they are making new music and/or using the scene to create a music video. The images on the cover of this album advert could give hints at what is going to be involved within the songs on the album.

Iconography- The edit which has been put onto the images give them a Polaroid picture effect, this makes them look quite old fashioned and old school. This is stereotypical of the folk genre which will allow audiences to immediately identify their genre of music before even listening to the album. The classic folk/rock folk genre is well represented by the instruments that are being held by the band. (Acoustic guitar, accordion, double bass and a banjo.) These instruments contribute to the image that the band have made for themselves and make the genre of the band very clear to audiences. The colours that have been used in this advert are iconic as it also represents the rock folk genre. At the corners of the photographs there is also something which looks like cello tape, acting as though it is sticking all of the images together, this gives the effect of a collage.

Setting- The setting of the images included on this album advert appears to be somewhere in the country. It suggests that they may be on some kind of a farm or just in the countryside. The trees and the yellow grass/wheat in the background of the image is what suggest this. The weather looks very fresh and the looks as if they were taken either at sunset or sunrise, this again adds to the idea that they are amongst a peaceful atmosphere.

Technical and audio codes- The images on the advert have clearly been edited to gain a Polaroid photo effect. The album advert has a sense of balance as there is an equal amount of space around the images in order to include the key information about the release of the album. All of the members of the band have also been given an equal amount of space within the small photographs. The colour of the font on the advert has been used to ensure a continuous flow within the poster. Various different sizes and styles of font have been used throughout the advert. The title of the artist on the poster has been made the biggest, this is to ensure that audiences are immediately aware of who the poster is about.