Phantom Moon

Phantom Moon
Studio album by
Duncan Sheik
ReleasedFebruary 27, 2001
RecordedMay – October, 2000
Studios
  • Sear Sound, TMF Studios and The Looking Glass Studio (New York City, New York)
  • Other Room Music (Seattle, Washington)
  • Angel Recording Studios (London, UK)
Length53:49
LabelNonesuch
ProducerDuncan Sheik
Duncan Sheik chronology
Humming
(1998)		 Phantom Moon
(2001)		 Daylight
(2002)
Singles from Phantom Moon
  1. "A Mirror in the Heart"
    Released: 2001
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarHalf star
Entertainment WeeklyB
People(favorable)
PopMattersStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStar
The Portland PhoenixStarStarStar
QStarStarStar
Rolling StoneStarStarHalf star
USA TodayStarStarHalf star
Wall of Sound(64/100)

Phantom Moon is the third album by American singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik. It was released on Nonesuch Records in 2001.

Recording

The album was a collaboration between Sheik and poet/playwright Steven Sater, who wrote the lyrics for the album. Phantom Moon is considered a tribute of sorts to Nick Drake and his album Pink Moon. The album features contributions from the London Session Orchestra, and from guitarist Bill Frisell. In addition, percussion is very spare, which helped create a mood of contemplation and spirituality that supports the lyrical content.

Release

The album was met with little commercial success, but favorable reviews. Review aggregating website Metacritic reports a normalized score of 76% based on 7 reviews. According to Allmusic, Phantom Moon is "easily Sheik's strongest, and most mature record to date". Rolling Stone wrote that the album "casts a lovely, languid shadow", while The New York Times wrote that it is "an album of moods to set you drifting and dreaming". Entertainment Weekly noted the album's "intimate lamentations", adding, "with one's feet up and headphones on, the strings suddenly shimmer, and the warm vocals soothe".

Track listing

All songs written by Steven Sater & Duncan Sheik.

  1. "The Wilderness" (Prelude) – 1:24
  2. "Longing Town" – 3:27
  3. "Mr. Chess" – 2:38
  4. "The Winds That Blow" – 3:04
  5. "Mouth on Fire" – 5:37
  6. "Sad Stephen's Song" – 6:28
  7. "Time and Good Fortune" – 4:43
  8. "Far Away" – 4:32
  9. "This Is How My Heart Heard" – 4:13
  10. "A Mirror in the Heart" – 4:08
  11. "Lo and Behold" – 5:13
  12. "Requiescat" – 3:58
  13. "The Wilderness" – 4:24

Personnel

Musicians

The London Session Orchestra (Tracks 2, 4–7, 9, 11 & 13)

Horns and Woodwinds
Strings

Production

Technical credits

References

  1. ↑ Jurek, Thom (February 27, 2001). "Phantom Moon – Duncan Sheik". Allmusic. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Beth Johnson (March 2, 2001). "Album Review: 'Phantom Moon' Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  3. ↑ Alec Foege; Ralph Novak (March 12, 2001). "Picks and Pans Review: Phantom Moon". People. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  4. ↑ Eden Miller (February 26, 2001). "Duncan Sheik: Phantom Moon". PopMatters. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Critic Reviews for Phantom Moon". Metacritic. February 27, 2001. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  6. ↑ Mikael Wood (March 15–22, 2001). "Duncan Sheik: PHANTOM MOON (Nonesuch)". The Portland Phoenix. Retrieved August 20, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ↑ "Duncan Sheik – Phantom Moon CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  8. ↑ Barry Walters (February 5, 2001). "Duncan Sheik: Phantom Moon : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  9. ↑ Edna Gundersen (March 6, 2001). "Eve's tempting rap stings; Sheik's artsy pop doesn't (Duncan Sheik, Phantom Moon)". USA Today. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  10. ↑ Kurt B. Reighly (2001). "Wall of Sound Review: Phantom Moon". Wall of Sound. Archived from the original on March 3, 2001. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  11. ↑ "MUSIC; A Throwback To the Poets Of Melancholy – New York Times". The New York Times. March 11, 2001. Retrieved September 20, 2012.