Anton Corbijn, known, among other works, for the film Control, about Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, makes his documentary debut with a dive into the work of the design studio Hipgnosis — composed by the brilliant Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey “Po” Powell —, responsible for the iconic album covers (huge productions, with no regard for costs) of everyone’s favourite bands in the 1970s, such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Peter Gabriel, among many others.
Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis) explores in a very insightful and humorous way an important chapter in music history. A journey into the creative production of the duo Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell, who found the innovative design studio Hipgnosis, based in London, and responsible for some of the most iconic record covers we know, from bands like Pink Floyd to Led Zeppelin, including T. Rex, Def Leppard, 10cc, Electric Light Orchestra and Paul McCartney & Wings. A documentary that gives us a glimpse into the enticing stories behind covers that are the result of an immense creative freedom and irreverence. Why the photograph of a cow on the cover of Atom Heart Mother, by Pink Floyd, or the extravagant trip to Hawaii to design the cover of Look Hear?, by 10cc, are just two examples in this enthusiastic, funny and captivating documentary, which is also a love letter celebrating the music, the art and the artists. (Helena César)