Had Beck grown up in Japan, he might have sounded something like Cornelius (a.k.a. Keigo Oyamada). At home he is a well-known producer and runs the record label Trattoria, where he released 1994’s The First Question Award and 69/96 a year later. Fantasma is his first American release. He follows Tom Ze’s philosophy of appropriating anything and everything, seamlessly melding high beauty to low trash. Kraftwerk cyborg voices tapdance with cartoon bunnies. 80’s-style Dinosaur Jr. guitar noise merges with My Bloody Valentine via Beach Boys harmonies in “New Music Machine.” Dinky toy organ sounds and cocktail rhythms segue into melodies Billy Corgan would sell his soul for in “Clash.” The songs skitter all over the place, creating an aural carnival joyride where you don’t know what will happen next. Which, if you have the glass-half-full perspective, is a lot like life. | Buy
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