Review by AVA LIVERSIDGE
There’s a ghost in the machine fueling the robust shoegaze scene which dominates the South Korean underground. Parannoul, the semi-anonymous indie outfit, has a reputation of being staggeringly prolific: His name—and his various pseudonyms—seem to pop up in the liner notes and album credits of most noteworthy projects coming out of the Korean musical underground. Recently, Parannoul opted for an unorthodox Saturday release of his fourth solo record, LP Sky Hundred.
The project grapples with the burden and responsibility attached to influence, and wonders if there’s a graceful way to both be “just a student writing music in [his] bedroom” and a regional star of not insignificant proportions. In Sky Hundred’s notes, Parannoul makes clear his predicament: “The sky is watching hundreds of me.” Ever esoteric, he goes on to dedicate the records to hundreds of [him].
Parannoul’s fourth solo project continues down the path of departure taken on After the Magic (2023)—a record that made many American magazines’ Albums of the Year lists —which explored denser, ambient rock as opposed to his consummate shoegaze beginnings. His solo work seems to calcify by the release, each project and year matured marked by escalating instrumental density.
The record’s lead singles “Painless” and “Gold River” were released directly following his 2023 record, independent of any upcoming project campaign. Sky Hundred was virtually a surprise release. Both singles navigate the intersections of aggression and control as the two impulses vie for dominance of his sonic structures. Parannoul pairs this exploration with a heavy dose of nostalgia and staying trigger-happy with the reverb.
South Korea’s recondite shoegaze star Parannoul offers his latest LP Sky Hundred for streaming, listen here:
