Daily Non-K-Pop Spotlight: “Arrival” by Parannoul
Oleh Parannoul
What does it sound like when there are too many feelings to feel? It might sound something like Korean shoegaze artist Parannoul’s 2023 album After the Magic. The whole album feels like a massive load of emotion and strain that just need some kind of outlet for release. As one reviewer put it, “this album wear[s] its heart on its sleeve and pull[s] you in so you can watch it bleed and feel it beating.”
One of the best tracks from this massive, painfully beautiful album is the third track “Arrival.” The song is almost eight minutes long, and seems to have two distinct sections. The first is a hopeful, hazy, sunshine-like romp. It’s a good time with an underlying tone of sadness, but the fuzzy guitar, bass, and vocals all mesh into a wonderfully messy soup. The section is punctuated with glockenspiel hits that help remind the listener it isn't’ all haze and craze.The second, however, is a much more gritty, grueling, pounding affair, as the instruments take a darker tone and follow a much more driving rhythm. Guitar solos and piano runs intensify the already wild sound and push it into borderline hysteria. It’s one of the best parts of the whole album. Strings and synths help break up the sludge of the track here and there, and the whole thing feels like an emotional journey by the end.