Fantastic Star

Originally the album was intended to be released by WEA UK (who had released Almond's Tenement Symphony album in 1991) and be produced by Soft Cell's former producer Mike Thorne under the working title Urban Velvet reflecting the Glam meets Electronica fusion. However, Almond's manager Stevo Pearce had the project moved to Phonogram Records who decided to bring new producers and remixers to the project and even added new songs to the original track list. Beatmasters, Martyn Ware and others reworked or created new songs to varying degrees of satisfaction or displeasure for Almond, and this would be the last album he released via a major label for over a decade. Almond had addiction problems during the recording of this album, which he documents in his 1999 autobiography Tainted Life. ==Release==

The first single from the album, "Adored and Explored" (remixed by the Beatmasters), reached No. 25 in the UK singles chart in May 1995. == The Artist's Cut re-release ==

The album was re-issued in the UK for Record Store Day on 22 April 2023. This was the first time the album had been available on vinyl and was released over two LPs. This was subtitled 'the Artist's Cut' as Almond had re-evaluated all of the tracks himself, including those that didn't make the album at the time but later appeared as B-sides of singles. Two songs that featured on the original CD release were removed: "The Idol Part 2 All Gods Fall" and "Shining Brightly", which Almond felt 'never really belonged' on the album. They were replaced by "The User", "Christmas in Vegas" and "My Guardian Angel". Almond also chose the new artwork, selecting his favourite shot from 1995 sessions by fashion photographer Zanna. The release was newly mastered for 180 gm vinyl at Abbey Road Studios and came with two fully printed inner bags with lyrics and a new design by Philip Marshall. ==Reception==

Fantastic Star received good to mixed reviews from the majority of critics. The album was released to disappointing sales reaching UK No. 54. ==Track listing==

• Marc Almond – vocals, synthesizer, background vocals • Neal X – guitar • Rick Shaffer – guitar • Chris Spedding – guitar • Martyn Ware – keyboards • B.J. Nelson, Betty, Morton Street Local 10014 – background vocals • David Johansen – harmonica on "We Need Jealousy", "Adored and Explored" and "Love to Die For" • John Cale – piano on "Love to Die For" • Andy Ross – guitar on "The Edge of Heartbreak" • Jeremy Stacey – percussion on "The Edge of Heartbreak" • Mandy Drummond, Chris Pitsillides – viola on "The Edge of Heartbreak" • Anne Stephenson, Gini Ball, Johnny Taylor – violin on "The Edge of Heartbreak" ==Chart performance==