Parannoul's identity remains an enigma, but the mysterious Korean musician has now precisely outlined his artistic path: a shoegaze reinterpreted through an oriental sensitivity, in which abrasive distortions intertwine with layered melodies and an emotional emo-pop matrix .
With “Sky Hundred”, his new album, Parannoul does not seek a sonic revolution, but explores warmer tones compared to previous works. Already the cover, a reddish and hypersaturated image, anticipates this direction, more essential and less festive than the elaborate constructions of “After The Magic”.
The beating heart of the album is “Evoke Me”, a monumental track lasting almost a quarter of an hour which, although dominated by fuzz and distortions, it avoids monotony thanks to continuous variations that make it seem like a mosaic of fragments united by the main theme. The song is rough and dense, but does not give up the emotional streak typical of Parannoul's approach, balanced between tenderness and impetuosity.
Almost all the tracks on the album share this tendency to be enveloped and almost suffocated by noise. For this reason, songs that leave more space for melody work better, such as “Backwards”, where the instrumental explosions are relegated to the final climax, avoiding flattening the overall dynamic. The album reclaims a more basic approach, returning to a simplicity that allows Parannoul to enhance his talent in creating hook memorable and in instilling a sense of romantic epicness even in the everyday stories it tells.
Songs like the delicately melancholy opener “A Lot Can Happen” or the “calm after the storm” of “Gold River” emerge naturally and are easily imprinted in the memory. Perhaps “Sky Hundred” will not be able to make those looking for a further creative leap fall in love, but it is an album that confirms Parannoul's ability to balance noise and melody, introspection and immediacy. If it doesn't leave an indelible mark, it certainly won't displease.
12/20/2024
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM