Cornelius

From his early days as a Shibuya-kei pioneer to the impressionistic sonics of his later work, Cornelius always pushes musical boundaries. The experimental pop auteur's striking juxtaposition of sampling and hip-hop-influenced beats with rock and vintage pop on albums such as 1995's 69/96 laid the groundwork for Shibuya-kei's playfully omnivorous approach. It also paved the way for Cornelius' 1997 breakthrough Fantasma, a dizzying blend of Motorik rhythms, yé-yé melodies, and Beach Boys harmonies that introduced his music to listeners outside of Japan (where his albums regularl...