Fantasma (Cornelius album)

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 –" (co-written by Schneider),[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]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[17]
The Baltimore Sun	[18]
Exclaim!	9/10[19]
Pitchfork	8.8/10[7]
Rolling Stone	[20]
Select	4/5[21]
Spin	6/10[22]

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."[23] 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."[24]

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.[25] 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."[19] Patrick St. Michel of Pitchfork said "it feels like an act of grateful tribute rather than a hip name-check."[7]

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[26]). The limited edition includes a bonus CD and a bonus DVD.[27]

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.[28]

All tracks are written by Keigo Oyamada, except where noted.

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

• Fantasma at Discogs (list of releases)
• Fantasma at MusicBrainz (list of releases)