Review of the Week: 파란노을 [Parannoul] - After The Night

 

Calliope Music Review of the Week

파란노을 [Parannoul] - After The Night

Korean Shoegaze Act, Parannoul Metamorphosizes in a Monumental Live Performance, Transforming Stunning Midi Tracks into Fully Instrumented Emo and Indie Rock Epics. 

 Formerly electronic produced shoegaze is inherited by a full band, comprised of multiple guitars, drums, bass, keyboard and even trumpet. Parannoul leads the band in performing songs off his last few solo efforts, as well as a 46 minute version of the single, "Into the Endless Night." After The Night sees improvised forms of each tune, letting a live setting embrace anarchic noise and crestfallen nostalgia. This raw sentimentalism along with boundary stretching indie compositions generate an awe-inspiring triumph for all alternative music.

In the context of Parannoul's recent discography, After The Night acts as a beacon for the artist's talent and creativity. The live album contains physical manifestations of some of his most popular work, as well as transformative versions of tracks that haven't made a full length LP before. Not only does this highlight the Korean's past successes, but shows his evolution in consistently improving an experimental shoegaze sound.

    As it turns out, the use of a 5 piece band results in an immensely heightened production experience. For starters, a duo of electric guitars roar with crunchy distortion, often interlapping to form drone backdrops for upbeat developments. Fellow shoegaze artist, Asian Glow mans a bumping bass guitar that consolidates pop grooves and interchanging progressions. High-hat and cymbal heavy drumming rhythmically crash at high velocity, becoming the foundation for noisy and quite hypnotic passages. Lastly, Parannoul himself adds glittering piano melodies that guide dynamic highs and intricate lows. His voice also serves as an instrument, adding melancholy harmony to brash tsunamis of sound. These raw instruments are combined with flashing digital audio effects that beep and whirl to complete heady, almost psychedelic concentrations of noise. All in all, this makes for rawer resonations, where each instrument earns their own individual spotlight. The live format also aids in naturally mixing complex polyphonies. Previous Parannoul studio efforts tend to have high frequencies collect in the canopy of the mix, resulting in unfavorable layering. This record's live audio and unvarnished engineering greatly diminishes such an effect, creating clearer separation between overlapping high notes.

    Despite such advancements in the production of this record, it is still a relatively low budget recording. The audio quality does have issues, resulting in white noise and unpleasant artifacts. This is most notable on the track "Soft Bruise," where glaring guitar and break-neck kick drum collide into muddy ground. Parallel audio defects do appear throughout the LP, but for the most part fade into the kaleidoscopic clouds of instrumentals, sometimes even adding to an acerbic atmosphere.

    Conceptionally, After The Night features themes of regret, self-deprecation, dreaming and romantic yearning. Simple poetry unleashes unfiltered reflection as Parannoul's refrains glide into crashing melodrama. Although there are moments where certain melodies fall flat compared to jangly instrumentation, there is an undoubtable earnestness and warmth in Parannoul's voice. Coupled with such impassioned lyricism and suspenseful sequences, the band manages to articulate deep sorrow, but still leave room for uplifting climaxes.

    Then there's the final track, "Into the Endless Night." This Post-Rock shoegaze collaboration takes up about half of the entire LP's length and is comprised of four evolving chapters. The first chapter is a rendition of the original nine minute single, featuring a bright theremin lead and weeping guitar. This runs until a drum breakdown slows the track into both a spacious, reverberated refrain and elegant piano section. Slowly, the instruments drop out of the mix until a sharp bluesy guitar crashes in, conducting a complete tonal shift. Here, the band enters an extended moment of improvisation, fit with guitar and bass solos. Then, from the heart of the mix emerges a warbling trumpet, screaming in the midst of primal chaos. All of the while, the chorus rings strong, everchanging to the evolution of the soundscape it belongs. Eventually, the pummeling firearms of drums, guitar and trumpet are washed away by a grand wave of swirling distortion. The brusque uproar builds to gigantic heights before fading to the ambiance of what sounds like boots sliding on damp concrete. The last portion of this leviathan track begins methodically, weaving an ambiance of tunnel echoes and inspirational voice clips into soft piano. Parannoul steadily reintroduces the main melody, reaching its high point when the instruments jump back in to complete the cycle. From here, the song repeats the original progression, releasing loads of built up tension and creating a diamond of a song in the process. 

    After everything is all said and done, ATN leaves a lasting impression of obstreperous reminiscence. In spite of auditory quality limitations, Parannoul and his band elevate prior shoegaze concepts, fashioning a remarkable delicacy in abrasiveness. It is unquestionable that this spectacular live album has a special quality to it, a momentous occasion, waiting patiently to dream blissfully, into the endless night.

Best Tracks: 북극성 (Polaris) -- 아름다운 세상 (Beautiful World) -- 아날로그 센티멘탈리즘 (Analog Sentimentalism) -- Imagination -- 흰천장 (White Ceiling) -- Into the Endless Night

9.5/10

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