Released 30 years ago
Fantastic Planet
Failure · 1996
68 min · 17 tracks · alternative rock
A swirling amalgam of heavy guitar textures and ethereal melodies that evoke a sense of cosmic introspection.
Top tracks — play these first
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Saturday Saviour — Opening with an expansive soundscape, this track perfectly encapsulates the album's blend of heaviness and melody while introducing themes of longing and existential reflection.
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The Nurse Who Loved Me — This song showcases Failure's songwriting prowess with its haunting lyrics and dynamic shifts between tranquil verses and explosive choruses, making it a standout moment on the album.
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Smoking Umbrellas — With its intricate guitar work and atmospheric production, this track exemplifies the band's ability to merge art rock sensibilities with alternative structures, creating a captivating listening experience.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's blend of heavy textures and ethereal melodies creates a unique sound that stands out in its genre.
What we noticed
- The album features multiple interludes, or segues, that create a sense of flow and continuity between the main tracks.
- Several songs employ dynamic shifts, moving from quiet, atmospheric sections to heavy, distorted guitar riffs.
- The last three tracks gradually decrease in tempo and intensity, allowing for a reflective conclusion to the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long immersive listening sessions
- wave-like pacing and flow
- introspective late-night vibes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on August 13, 1996, Fantastic Planet was Failure's third studio album, coming after their previous release, Magnified. At this point in their career, the band was transitioning from a niche alternative rock act into a more established name within the genre, seeking broader recognition while experimenting with ambitious sonic landscapes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Hum· Catherine Wheel· A Perfect Circle
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Saturday Saviour 4:27
- 2 Sergeant Politeness 4:05
- 3 Segue 1 1:54
- 4 Smoking Umbrellas 3:58
- 5 Pillowhead 2:09
- 6 Blank 5:38
- 7 Segue 2 1:17
- 8 Dirty Blue Balloons 4:23
- 9 Solaris 3:43
- 10 Pitiful 4:45
- 11 Leo 3:05
- 12 Segue 3 2:11
- 13 The Nurse Who Loved Me 4:25
- 14 Another Space Song 5:10
- 15 Stuck on You 4:28
- 16 Heliotropic 6:14
- 17 Daylight 6:00
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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