The Young Gods / Documents 1985 – 2015
The Archive as Fanzine
A wide-ranging archival volume documenting the 30-year success story of rock band The Young Gods from French-speaking Switzerland presents its material chronologically and in a very readable way without appearing dry or fusty. Photos, concert posters, record covers, reviews, track listings, notes, and so on are arranged on thin high-gloss paper in accordance with two principles that allow ample scope for variation: some of the documents are printed in full bleed on half a page, a full page or a double page, while others are arranged against a white or black background in groups of up to five items per page. Overall, the aesthetic is reminiscent of a fanzine; and indeed the material, which ranges from the deeply personal to the stereotypical, is likely to appeal most to dedicated fans. The passionate and committed design immerses the reader in the material, which is presented without commentary. On closer examination a long index printed (along with an interview with the band’s leader) at the end on uncoated paper locates individual documents in space and time. The typographically designed softcover of yellow plastic-coated card is pleasingly unpretentious.
