322-323 Kensington High Street

London, England
W14 8NS
millie@soniceditions.com

13.01.16
The Strays Marks To Prove It
Report re: the effectiveness of the combination of your main product and ancillary texts.
After reviewing your newest video release, and comparing it alongside your album artwork and
advert, I have completed the report: how effective is the combination of your main product and
ancillary texts. Below I have addressed all relevant aspects of your main product combined with
your ancillary texts, whilst noting your creative process throughout.
Upon first appearances, your digipak complements both the genre of your band and album. The
cover artwork, of a manipulated vintage image, ensures an ambiguous nature to your album which
is commonplace amongst the indie rock genre. The decision, therefore, to exclude images of the
band members from your album cover works effectively to conjure curiosity amongst the audience:
enticing them to explore your band and your album further. The semi-obscured album title simply
adds further to this ambiguity, as it forces your audience to research your band and new album
release. By obscuring the faces of those on your album cover, you have taken inspiration from
album artwork of the likes of Kendrick Lamars Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City and The Drums
Portamento. Though these are both artists of very different genres, the principle aim of their album
artwork is the same as yours: to intrigue your listeners.
A factor I greatly noticed when reviewing your digipak and advert is the continuous colour palette,
taken from the cover photography and then included throughout both ancillary texts. The muted
beige and grey tones pair fantastically with the vintage images used, but more importantly they
reflect the muted styling of your band members in your music video. As an indie rock band, you
decided to follow the route of plain and casual wear so as not to detract from the performance
element of your video. This is reflected in your digipak with the use of your chosen colour palette
and the simple idea of manipulated photographs. Especially as your photographs are set in natural
situations, and the models dressed in everyday clothing (of the period in which they were taken).
A theme prominent in your video is simplicity. Although your main product may not be minimalist in
terms of mise en scene, you have included very natural props only those which are relevant to
the performance and filming of the video are included. This creates a very relaxed feeling

throughout the video, as your effect is to create an atmosphere which is natural and portrays The
Strays as down to earth. This idea, along with the casual styling, is very effective when combined
with the simple design of your ancillary texts. The only factor of your video which jars this idea of
simplicity is your setting: an aeroplane hangar with state of the art lighting. A total contrast to the
boy-next-door styling and raw layout of your performance, the setting and lighting should in theory
look out of place. However, paired with your ancillary texts, this disparity of ideas is entirely
effective as you have simply recreated the twist of the image manipulation of your album and
advert artwork.
Your advert also incorporates this prominent idea of simplicity by only including the necessities
required of an album advert. The reuse of the album cover creates an image for your band, so that
your album may be easily recognised by your audience when purchasing.
The most effective combination of your main products and ancillary texts, however, is quite
blatantly the music. Your song, Marks To Prove It, is of indie rock genre and each of your texts
adhere to indie rock genre conventions. When performing, your band members are solemn and
almost unenthusiastic looking which is commonly seen in music videos of the same genre such as
Metronomys The Look. Your ancillary texts are ambiguous, simplistic and stylish three elements
which are attractive to your target audience of young indie rock listeners. It is apparent that a lot of
attention to detail went into editing and shooting your video, focusing on not only styling and miseen-scene, but also the cuts and shots you have created. An early sequence in your video, when
your band is entering the set and the lights change in sync to the cuts/song rhythm, presents the
audience with a neatly made product which pays attention to not only the genre but also the
relationship between the music and the visuals presented. Your ancillary texts also present this, as
it is clear that due to colour, sizing and style you have taken great pains to create a seamless piece
of work.
To conclude, I must address the points made above. Overall the combination of your main product
and ancillary texts are effective due to two key elements which I have addressed throughout this
report: adherence to genre and simplicity. There are other links, of course, but these are the two
which I repeatedly came across when reviewing your work. The inclusion of the simple styling of
your band perfectly complements the simple styling of your ancillary texts, and the genre-specific
moodiness of your bands performance pairs brilliantly with the ambiguous nature of your album
and advert artwork. Thus, to complete this report, I deem the combination of your main products
and ancillary texts a success.
Report completed by: Millie Drew.