Non-K-Pop Spotlight: “A Lot Can Happen” by Parannoul

We’ve mentioned before how Korean shoegaze giants Parannoul have the incredible ability to make music that puts the ups and downs of real life into a concentrated blast of sound. Their 2023 album Before the Magic conveyed a deep sense of hurt, whereas their newest album, Sky Hundred, has a much more optimistic tone at the core of the music.

 

The opener, “A Lot Can Happen,” in particular immediately hits the ground running with this sort of frenetic optimism. A solo piano chord tricks the listener into thinking this is going to be a quieter experience before an absolute assault of sound blasts into their unassuming ears. The song has an infectious energy and you can’t help but feel carried along by this warm enthusiasm. The drums are mixed on the border of being too loud, but their pushed presence makes sure the track (and the rest of the album) never lose their momentum. It’s one heck of a way to start an album, that's for sure.