From the sublime to the ridiculous is an apt description of rock'n'roll and also of xmas' continual struggle between religion and commerce in our bankrupt culture. And of our recent work mode, wherein we have just been asked to function both the fastest and slowest ever, in effect to do album covers in the shortest and longest time frames. Firstly Shpongle ('The Ineffable Mysteries of Shpongleland') and some electronic music with Indian overtones, which inclined us towards images with an Indian flavour, naturally enough.

Shpongle planned 3 releases - a CD, a DVD, and a box set. It seemed artistically and economically prudent to execute all 3 images in one go, so we proposed going to Rajasthan in India. Shpongle's manager, like many managers, said let's do it now, right away, July 08, even though it was the hottest month in Rajasthan. Rupert and Dan duly flew to India with Serena and took 3 pictures which came to be called 'skimming saddhu' (CD), the 'staircase to nowhere' (DVD), and the 'steps of Escher' for the box set. The saddhu has just learnt to yogi fly but in practicing across the lake he bounces like a flat stone leaving a trail of concentric ripples and getting his loin cloth a little wet in the process.... he's young, later he will get the hang of it.