I've come back to this project after putting it away for a couple of weeks. Fresh eyes have helped me refine it in lots of little ways, but I'm still undecided whether I'm finished with it.
I do think I prefer it with a blue contrast note brought in, like this:
I think that counter balances the more old-fashioned note of the serif typography to make sure this cover has enough of the fresh and modern.
And I think that colour note also helps highlight what's catching at my eye and stopping me from signing off on this personal project - I'm not quite satisfied with the 'HODGSON' part. I'll have to consider how I might revise that to better effect.