Sounds save … and good.

You might look at the new Calibre and Metric from KLIM also:
http://www.vllg.com/fonts

I cannot exactly say why, but I've always felt that the perfect serif companion for Akzidenz is Sabon. For me they work together perfectly.

Thanks for your comments.

Calibre and Metric I did not know - good to see them.

And Sabon, funnily enough, was the other font I was considering. I agree it does work well with AG. I know that garalde fonts are often recommended as companions to AG, and that Sabon is considered a modern version of a garalde. But I was ideally looking for something that feels a bit more contemporary than Sabon - much as I like it.

Any thoughts for a serif with a subtly contemporary flavour?

I think FF Tisa or Tisa light could work well

Dear Joeimmen, I like the suggestion of Tisa, which has made me think. But in conclusion I still want to find a serif, rather than a slab.

AG is bland, old-fashioned and institutional. For 99% of your client's customers, it might just as well be Arial.

For a complementary text face, good old Times Roman would be perfect.

This is a golden age of new type. Step out of the past, roll up your sleeves, get rid of the AG and try to evolve this identity into something more truly contemporary, not just the usual art house cliché.

What Mr. Shinn said.

>>I cannot exactly say why, but I've always felt that the perfect serif companion for Akzidenz is Sabon. For me they work together perfectly.

My first thought also, even before opening this thread… BUT – even though I have loved AG for a long time, I have gone through a very easy divorce and have used National for a couple of years now, a match made in heaven…

I also like National a lot, but depending on the context it can feel a little too perky/friendly.
FF Bau could be another good alternative to AG.

Walbaum is the natural and best fitting complement to AG.