Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis)

Mikey’s Film Review: Squaring The Circle (The Story Of Hipgnosis) (2023) Vinyl collectors and fans of Classic Rock will surely love this exceptional talking heads style documentary currently streaming on Amazon. Directed and filmed in striking black and white by famed Dutch photographer, music video creative Anton Corbijn (Depeche Mode, U2, Herbert Grönemeyr, Metallica…), it’s a fascinating insight into a unique artistic relationship and a body of work that will very likely never be matched - or seen again… Using archive footage, past and current interviews with founders Storm Thorgerson (who passed away in 2013) and Aubrey Powell (now 78), we discover the process and ocassionally elaborate (make that outrageously expensive!) path they took to create some of the most iconic LP art in the history of music. From their lowkey inception to their own ‘Rockstar’ emulating indulgences, between 1968 and 1983 Hipgnosis were THE go to creative team for album covers. At their peak, they were treat like ‘Rock Royalty’ and could demand a fee of £50,000 per work… Pink Floyd started the ball rolling and in quick succession Hipgnosis were soon taking commissions for Led Zeppelin, T. Rex, Black Sabbath, Wishbone Ash, UFO, Bad Company, AC/DC, Scorpions, The Nice, Paul McCartney & Wings, The Alan Parsons Project, Yes, Humble Pie, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Electric Light Orchestra, Rainbow, Styx, Al Stewart, XTC and even Def Leppard… New interviewees include both fans of their work (Noel Gallagher) and those who were there and ocassionally a part of the creative process (Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Jimmy Page, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Graham Gouldman). In the end they made loads of money… and they lost it too. They made some truly iconic images and they made some outlandish, ridiculous decisions. It worked because they were a brilliant contradiction of ideas in a time where an ‘anything goes’ attitude prevailed. Noel Gallagher suggests a reason why many of us still share an affection for their work: “It was an affordable art collection of the working class”… Maybe that’s true. Can you remember the last time you looked at a piece of art in an exhibition in the way that we once devoured and perused our album covers? Me neither… Mikey’s Film Rating: 4/5*

Probably the best documentary I've watched, really interesting stuff if you're into music

A fascinating look at THE company behind so many album covers (and more) from the 70s into the 80s - back in the day when the cover was the first impression a potential buyer had of an album. Really enjoy the "peek behind the covers" at the work and planning that went on with the team and all the incredible musicians they worked with. Not to mention all the stories, so many stories of "back in the day" - a real treat. So glad this documentary was recommended!

SQUARING THE CIRCLE takes a straight-ahead documentary approach to the twisty tale of innovative album art design studio Hipgnosis, whose iconic work is still influential today. It's also an insightful look into the evolving music and pop culture industry of an incredible era. Shine on!

Great movie about a unique moment in music history. So many massive groups with unlimited budgets enabling the Hipgnosis team to really let their imaginations run riot.

I've always loved Storm's and Po's artwork for Pink Floyd, and the pineapple thief, and muse. I had no idea they did the art for Led Zeppelin, and Peter Gabriel etc. amazing documentary, and inspiring. It rekindled my childhood passion for these bands.

Interesting. Record and a sleeve worth seeing if interested in music packaging in 60 and 70s

If you appreciate music and art, it's a must see.

Great Music, Interesting Stories.

if you love 70's classic rock, this is a must see. a beautiful slice of 70's culture, represented by the people that lived through it and survived to tell the story.