Fantasma (Cornelius album)

Fantasma
Studio album by Cornelius
Released August 6, 1997 (1997-08-06)
Genre Shibuya-kei[1]
Length 50:04
Label Trattoria
Producer Keigo Oyamada
Cornelius chronology
96/69
(1996)		 Fantasma
(1997)		 Point
(2001)
Singles from Fantasma
  1. "Star Fruits Surf Rider"
    Released: 1997
  2. "Free Fall"
    Released: 1998
  3. "Chapter 8 – Seashore and Horizon –"
    Released: 1998

Fantasma is the third studio album by Japanese recording artist Cornelius (Keigo Oyamada), released on August 6, 1997 on his label Trattoria.[2] Oyamada envisioned the album as "a one-on-one experience between the music and the listener. ... It starts with you entering into the journey and ends with you returning back to reality."[3] It peaked at number 6 on the Oricon Albums Chart[2] and number 37 on the UK Independent Albums Chart.[4] Three singles were issued from the album: "Star Fruits Surf Rider", "Free Fall", and "Chapter 8 – Seashore and Horizon –".[5]

Fantasma was initially received with mixed reviews, but drew more praise in later years as one of the defining works of Shibuya-kei.[1] Rolling Stone Japan placed it at number 10 on its list of the "100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time".[6] Critic W. David Marx described Fantasma as "an important textbook for an alternative musical history where Bach, Bacharach, and the Beach Boys stands as the great triumvirate."[1]

Production and release

The tracks on Fantasma were written and recorded in the same order they appear on the album, and were produced on magnetic digital reel tape recorders.[3] Cornelius's goal in creating the album was to "take the listener on a personal trip, to be a one-on-one experience between the music and the listener. ... It starts with you entering into the journey and ends with you returning back to reality."[3] Almost all of the tracks were named after existing music bands,[7] including references to Count Five, the Clash, and Microdisney.[8] Buffalo Daughter's Moog Yamamoto appeared on "Mic Check" and "2010".[9] The Apples in Stereo's Robert Schneider and Hilarie Sidney performed on "Chapter 8 – Seashore and Horizon –",[7] while the High Llamas' Sean O'Hagan (formerly of Microdisney) appeared on "Thank You for the Music".[9]

In Japan, the limited edition of Fantasma which comes with stereo earphones was released via Trattoria Records on August 6, 1997.[10] The standard edition of the album was released on September 3, 1997.[11] On March 24, 1998, Fantasma was released in North America and Europe via Matador Records.[5] Due to sample clearance issues, "Monkey" was retitled to "Magoo Opening", the same as the title of the sampled song, and it was counted as a cover.[3] As of 2006, Fantasma had sold more than 300,000 copies worldwide.[12]

Two companion remix albums, FM and CM, were released on November 26, 1998.[13][14] The former is composed of remixed Fantasma tracks by Money Mark, the High Llamas, Buffalo Daughter, the Pastels, Damon Albarn of Blur, Unkle, and Coldcut.[15] The latter is composed of remixes by Cornelius of most of the artists that contributed to FM.[16] The former reached number 39 and the latter reached number 40 on the Oricon Albums Chart.[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[17]
Exclaim!9/10[18]
Pitchfork8.8/10[7]
Rolling Stone[19]
Select4/5[20]
Spin6/10[21]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic praised Fantasma as "one of those rare records where you can't tell what's going to happen next, and it leaves you hungry for more."[17] Stephen Thompson of The A.V. Club said, "Fantasma is a crisp, dynamic, mostly pleasant construction that sounds like the product of one inventive man whose sounds are created and manipulated strictly within the confines of a studio setting."[22] Steve McClure of Billboard called it "a wonderful example of how some of Japan's best pop musicians assimilate Western musical influences and combine them in original, quirky ways."[23]

In 2007, Rolling Stone Japan placed Fantasma at number 10 on its list of the "100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time".[6] In 2011, it was included in LA Weekly's "beginner's guide" to Shibuya-kei.[24] Reviewing the album's 2016 re-issue, Daniel Sylvester of Exclaim! wrote that "Cornelius used entire genre motifs wholesale to deliver one of the most exploratory releases of all time."[18] Patrick St. Michel of Pitchfork said "it feels like an act of grateful tribute rather than a hip name-check."[7]

Reissue history

On November 3, 2010, the remastered version of Fantasma was released via Warner Music Japan. It was remastered by Yoshinori Sunahara (a former member of Denki Groove[25]). The limited edition includes a bonus CD and a bonus DVD.[26]

On June 10, 2016, Fantasma was reissued in the United States, accompanied by a tour in August including a date performing at the Eaux Claires festival. The album was released as a limited edition remastered double vinyl LP via Lefse Records and digitally released via Post Modern.[27]

Track listing

All tracks written by Keigo Oyamada, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Mic Check" 3:01
2."The Micro Disneycal World Tour" 3:37
3."New Music Machine" 3:53
4."Clash" 5:37
5."Count Five or Six" 3:03
6."Magoo Opening" (originally titled "Monkey")Dennis Famon2:08
7."Star Fruits Surf Rider" 5:42
8."Chapter 8 – Seashore and Horizon –"
3:25
9."Free Fall" 4:07
10."2010" 2:04
11."God Only Knows" 7:39
12."Thank You for the Music" 4:53
13."Fantasma" 0:55
Total length:50:04

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.[9]

  • Keigo Oyamada (also credited as The Ape) – production, performing, writing, mixing

Musicians

  • Toyoaki Mishima – keyboards
  • Kazumichi Fujiwara – vocals (on "Mic Check", "Star Fruits Surf Rider", and "2010")
  • Moog Yamamoto – scratches (on "Mic Check" and "2010")
  • Kinbara Strings – strings (on "The Micro Disneycal World Tour", "Star Fruits Surf Rider", and "God Only Knows")
  • Yano Yuki – theremin (on "The Micro Disneycal World Tour")
  • Yoshié Hiragakura – drums (on "Count Five or Six", "Star Fruits Surf Rider", and "Free Fall")
  • Robert Schneider – vocals, bass (on "Chapter 8 – Seashore and Horizon –")
  • Hilarie Sidney – vocals, drums (on "Chapter 8 – Seashore and Horizon –")
  • Sean O'Hagan – banjo, sampler, chorus (on "Thank You for the Music")

Production

  • Toyoaki Mishima – hard-disk manipulations
  • Nakai-kun – mixing, engineering assistant
  • Toru Takayama – mixing, engineering

Artwork

  • Hiroshi Nomura – photos
  • Masakazu Kitayama – artwork
  • Mitsuo Shindo – artwork

Charts

Chart (1997–98) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[2] 6
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[4] 37

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hadfield, James (July 24, 2016). "Keigo Oyamada sees U.S. 'Fantasma' tour as a good warm-up to new Cornelius material". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "CORNELIUSのアルバム売り上げランキング". Oricon. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Lindsay, Cam (August 4, 2016). "Return to the Planet of Cornelius". Noisey. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  5. 1 2 McClure, Steve (March 14, 1998). "Up From The Japanese Underground: Cornelius, Buffalo Daughter Offer Pop With An Edge". Billboard: 9, 144.
  6. 1 2 Lindsay, Cam (November 14, 2007). "Finally! "The 100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time" Listed". Exclaim!. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Michel, Patrick St. (June 11, 2016). "Cornelius: Fantasma". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  8. ↑ Lamm, Olivier (May 17, 2016). "Lefse Records réédite en grande pompe Fantasma de Cornelius, le Sgt Pepper's des années 90". Le Drone. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 Fantasma (CD Liner). Cornelius. 1998.
  10. ↑ "Cornelius / Fantasma (限定)". CD Journal. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  11. ↑ "コーネリアス / ファンタズマ". CD Journal. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  12. ↑ Robson, Daniel (October 19, 2006). "Cornelius pops back with touching sounds". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  13. ↑ "コーネリアス / FM". CD Journal. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  14. ↑ "コーネリアス / CM". CD Journal. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  15. ↑ Schreiber, Ryan (March 9, 1999). "Cornelius: FM (Fantasma reMixes)". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  16. ↑ Tartan, Suzannah (March 19, 1999). "Journey to the center of Cornelius". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  17. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Fantasma – Cornelius". AllMusic. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  18. 1 2 Sylvester, Daniel (June 8, 2016). "Cornelius – Fantasma (Reissue)". Exclaim!. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  19. ↑ Salamon, Jeff (March 23, 1998). "Cornelius: Fantasma". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 25, 2009. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  20. ↑ Barnes, Mike (August 1998). "Cornelius: Fantasma". Select (98): 90.
  21. ↑ Michel, Sia (May 1998). "Cornelius: Fantasma / Dimitri From Paris: Sacrebleu". Spin. 14 (5): 134. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  22. ↑ Thompson, Stephen (April 19, 2002). "Cornelius: Fantasma". The A.V. Club. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  23. ↑ McClure, Steve (September 26, 1998). "Critic's Choice". Billboard: 118.
  24. ↑ Ohanesian, Liz (April 13, 2011). "Japanese Indie Pop: The Beginner's Guide to Shibuya-Kei". LA Weekly. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  25. ↑ "コーネリアス『Fantasma』が砂原良徳のリマスターで復活". OKMusic. September 6, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  26. ↑ "コーネリアス「FANTASMA」砂原リマスターの詳細明らかに". Natalie. October 6, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  27. ↑ Pearce, Sheldon (April 27, 2016). "Cornelius Announces Fantasma Reissue". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
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