Machel Montano released his album "Book of Angels" in 2007. The album's digipak features Machel dressed as an angel throughout to represent the album's title. The white color scheme symbolizes angels and Machel's purity. In contrast to typical soca album covers, Machel is fully clothed, further distinguishing his "high definition" rebranding. Through composed images of Machel watching over others, the digipak visually connects him to the album's theme of angels.

1. Machel Montano
‘Book of angels ’
Digipak Analysis

2. Background and Analysis
Book of angels was released in 2007
Trinidad and Tobago - 27th February 2007
North USA - 25th March 2007.
13 page booklet including the lyrics of the song
and autobiography, CD and 12 songs.
The album released marked 25 years of Machel
Montano being in the music industry as well as
the first album to be released under his re-
branded name ‘Machel Montano HD’
Album sold out in stores within the first few days
of being on the shelves.
The album is mostly white to show the
representation of angels. The clouds in the
background relate to the title and the wings
show that he is an angel.

3. Front cover
The front cover show’s Machel wearing all white
clothing and angel wings.
The front cover connotes his purity and high
power/authority. This is backed by him re-
branding his name to ‘HD – high definition’ when
launching this album.
The covers denotation is that he’s an angel.
The front cover does not stick to the typical
conventions of a Soca digipak as the
females/males are usually partially naked whereas
Machel is appropriately clothed which then
represents his purity.
Through the composition of the picture we see
Machel with his arms wide open which shows
that he is warm and welcoming. This also links
with the narrative of angels which are associated
with heaven

4. Back cover
The back cover shows the 12
songs included on the CD.
The record label ‘Machel
Montano HD’ is also included on
the cover.
There is Barcode on the bottom
along with copyright phrase.

5. Spine
The spine of the digipak states the name of
the artist and the name of the album. This is
so that it is easily recognisable amongst other
CD’s

6. Picture Panel
A picture of Machel
Montano is shown
when the digipak is
first opened.

7. The disc
cover of the discs are likewise to that of
the album cove r – both contain
images of the clouds and Machel
Montano representing the angel.
The disc also has the name of the artist as
well as what the album is called so
that people are able to identify what
album they are listening too.
A black and white image of Machel
performing is located at the top of
the disc – showing his energy side and
the reason that he is called HD.
The CD features the song ‘jumbie’ which
won Soca Monarch 2007.

8. Interior pages
The interior pages of the digipak contain the
lyrics of each song on the album.
The people who help produce each song are
recognised before the lyrics
Quotes like “the angel of death and re-birth”
and “angel of imagination and liberation”
are used to denote his reasons for success
and how he reached that point in his life
Close shot images of him looking from the
corner of his eyes and grasping his hands
connotes that he is serious about his career
and that he is watching all movements.
These images can also connote that him
representing an angel can also mean that
he can see everything.

9. Overall analysis
Overall, the digipak does not really fit the genre which it is associated with as Soca is not usually associated with angels.
Nevertheless, due to the target audience of Soca being anyone of any age the digipak does fulfil its needs as near enough
everyone is able to relate to and recognise angels and their symbolic meaning.
The composition of the pictures fits the meaning of the digipak as they appear to show Machel watching over people, this links in
with the album being named ‘book of angels.’
The colours which have been used throughout the digipak are white and red. White is used to show heaven, angels and the clouds
– representing Machel’s purity and high power. On the other hand, the red is used to show his passion for the career that he
has and the progress that he has made. By keeping the colour scheme of the digipak the same the whole way through it
shows that the digipak is a symbolic replica of the name of the album rather than a theme that is going to represent the
artist.
Throughout the digipak there are no typical conventions of Soca digipaks. This is as most Soca digipaks contain images of partially
naked individuals. By Machel defying the typical conventions of Soca digipaks it connotes him breaking away from what is
traditionally done of the Soca scene as well as him re-branding himself as ‘high definition’.
The denotation of Machel Montanos ‘book of angels’ album is that his songs are the book and he is the angel.
The connotations of the digipak are that Machel Montano is pure, highly powered, energetic and passionate. This is shown
through the images and colours used throughout the digipak as well as the quotes used on the inside pages of the booklet.
The representation of Machel throughout the digipak is that he is very sinister and observed. This is visble through the
composition of the images and the fact that the album is named ‘book of angels’.