Factory records, the identity of which, will forever be synonymous with Peter Saville, was the brithplace of a business ideal, which will probably never be repeated. Factory was a company, which did what every creative mind lives for, and that is the ability for it's artists, both musical, and visual, to do what they wanted, irrespective of whether it didn't make good financial sense or not (r.e. blue monday 12"!). The identity which Peter was able to create at Factory, has become as integral as the music it represented, and so launched the career of someone who was to become one of the biggest names in visual communication.

After Factory, Saville has gone on to work with some of the biggest names in the graphic design, and fashion, helping to create identities, which never fail to have an impact, as well as continuing to provide New Order with a strong visual identity.

This book is a long awaited chance to see a comprehensive collection of Saville's work, from the very first, to the very latest. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this book, is the inclusion of some of the original reference and inspiration for his works, and a rare insight into how something, the finished result of which is now so familliar, has come to be.

Saville's journey has been pretty turbulent, and his reputation for time keeping (or lack of), has been born from nothing other than perfectionism, something for which, some of his former clients are less than forgiving. The many anecdotes, and stories behind many Saville works, therefore make very entertaining reading, and this book should be bought to be read, as much as for the visual content.

This book is proof that in order to break new ground, sometimes you just have to break a few rules, and if that results in some pissed off clients, then Peter Saville has shown, it is a price worth paying.

If (like me) you have come to Saville through his most famous creations, the sleeves for Factory Records, New Order and Joy Divison you will not be disappointed at all.
The cover is, as Saville puts it 'a remix' of his famous cover design for Joy Division's 'Unknown Pleasures'...rendered in beautiful icy white 3D. Like his classic LP covers there is no information on the front or back of the book (apart from the barcode).

Inside, all his classic record covers are faithfully reproduced. (yes all the different versions of the 7" of 'Everything's Gone Green' are displayed...happy now?).
These are accompanied by his other designs for the likes of OMD, Peter Gabriel, Suede, Pulp and Roxy Music. Plus his forays into corporate designs for fashion designers, shops etc. and some of his photographic work.
The text comes from design critics, cultural critics like Peter York, and Pop culture-commentators like Paul Morley, and an interview with the man himself.

You will find a heady mixture of the the industrial, the typographic, the geometric..and suprisingly...the erotic.

His influence on design has permeated posters, record sleeves, flyers, and the interiors of pubs and clubs in my native Manchester to a huge extent over the last twenty years...and maybe in your town too. If you want to know where all this came from...Read about Peter Saville.

If you're a fashion victim, of course you need this...its the ultimate coffee-table book for the 21st century. Leave it to flop open on the page showing his sleeve for Section 25's 'From the Hip' and you will add thousands to the value of your home.