Phantom Phorce is a remix album of Super Furry Animals' 2003 record Phantom Power. The remixes had previously appeared on the DVD version of Phantom Power—they were re-released as Phantom Phorce on the band's own Placid Casual label as a way of ensuring the remixers would receive royalties for the tracks. The album features a commentary from the fictional 'Kurt Stern' who appears between songs to discuss the re-recording of Phantom Power under his guidance after being unhappy with the original. First editions of the album came packaged in a case that doubled as a paper model of a video game arcade cabinet, and included a bonus CD; the Slow Life EP. Critical reaction to Phantom Phorce was generally positive.

Origins, concept and music

150px|right|thumb|Initial copies of Phantom Phorce came in packaging which could be folded into the shape of a [[video game arcade cabinet.]]

Phantom Phorce features remixes previously available on the DVD version of Phantom Power. According to drummer Dafydd Ieuan the band didn't have the money to pay the artists involved for these remixes so, in order to provide them with royalties, promised to release an album featuring the tracks on their own label. to the likes of Mario Caldato Jr's take on "Liberty Belle" and High Llamas' "Valet Parking" which are merely "spruced up".

The remixes are interspersed with anecdotes from 'Kurt Stern' (actually the band's road manager) who supposedly made the decision to make these remixes after being unhappy with the original Phantom Power. According to bassist Guto Pryce this "running commentary is tongue in cheek, it's our road manager pretending to be a producer, and he ends up sounding like a... twat!"

|rev2 = The Guardian

|rev2score = (favourable) Phantom Phorce was also issued on gold-coloured vinyl.

Critical reaction to Phantom Phorce was generally positive with Uncut stating that the album features an "inspired overhaul" of tracks from Phantom Power, Some reviews pointed out that the album compares favourably with other remix albums with The Guardian calling Phantom Phorce "stimulating and often rather beautiful, bucking the trend set by most other self-indulgent and pointless remix albums" and the NME stating that "hearing a rock band get the remix treatment is usually a mildly diverting experience rather than a life-changing one. So it's an extremely pleasant surprise to be faced with a whole album of the buggers ... and be thoroughly entertained." Q stated that the commentary by 'Kurt Stern' was one of the best features of the album and The Times expressed surprise that these "'amusing interludes' between tracks are actually funny", however Pitchfork Media found that 'Stern' "gets in the way more than he helps" and claimed that, by the time the listener had heard the full album he or she would "likely consider redubbing it without ['Stern's'] contributions".

Track listing

<br />

Personnel

The following people contributed to Phantom Phorce:

Band

  • Gruff Rhys – Lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Huw Bunford – Lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Guto Pryce – Bass guitar
  • Cian Ciaran – Keyboards, backing vocals
  • Dafydd Ieuan – Drums, backing vocals

Remixers

  • Weevil
  • Mario Caldato Jr.
  • Killa Kela
  • Wauvenfold
  • Four Tet
  • Massimo
  • Boom Bip
  • Bravecaptain
  • Zan Lyons
  • Minotaur Shock
  • High Llamas
  • Llwybr Llaethog
  • Sir Doufous Styles
  • Force Unknown
  • Freiband

Additional musicians

  • Jonathan 'Catfish' Thomas – pedal steel guitar on tracks 4, 13
  • Kris Jenkins – percussion on tracks 1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 15
  • Rachel Thomas – backing vocals on tracks 3, 4
  • Gary Alsebrook – trumpet on tracks 6, 7
  • Savio Pacini – trombone on tracks 6, 7
  • Rico Rodriguez – trombone on track 13
  • Eddie Thornton – trumpet on track 13
  • Ray Carless – saxophone on track 13
  • Marcus Holdway – cello on tracks 4, 7, 13, 14
  • Sally Herbert – violin on tracks 4, 7, 14
  • Brian G. Wright – violin on tracks 4, 7, 14
  • Gill Morley – violin on tracks 4, 7, 14
  • Ellen Blair – violin on tracks 4, 7, 14
  • Pete Fowler – Kaoss flanges on track 14
  • Neil McFarland – Kaoss flanges on track 14

Artwork

  • Pete Fowler – Illustration & design
  • John Mark James – Illustration & design

References

<!-- This is a licensed stream for the album, which is allowed under Wikipedia polices -->

  • Phantom Phorce at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)