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After the Magic
After the Magic in Bloomington, MN
Current price: $11.99
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Size: CD
Parannoul
is an anonymous musician from South Korea whose music is a noisy, cathartic blend of emo and shoegaze, occasionally with arrangements complex and ambitious enough to be labeled as post-rock or math rock. They released several primarily instrumental albums, mostly under the now-discontinued alias
laststar
, before making a huge splash online with 2021's
To See the Next Part of the Dream
, which was recorded entirely on the artist's home computer and self-released without any promotion. Following an EP of outtakes as well as a split release and a collaboration,
released third album
After the Magic
in 2023, this time with
Topshelf Records
issuing the physical editions. While previous
efforts were certainly highly impressive considering that they were no-budget bedroom recordings by an unknown artist, they still felt somewhat limited -- the spirit and energy were there, but the artist's technical abilities hadn't fully developed yet, and there was definitely an amateur quality to them. No such problems plague
, however. The album is
's breakthrough moment, featuring their most memorable songwriting to date as well as their most stunning arrangements. Not quite as overtly emo-influenced as previous releases,
draws more from chiming, melodic '90s alt-rock, adding electronic flourishes such as glitches and subtle breakbeats, and even approaching chamber pop with string arrangements from
Vampillia
's
Rei Miyamoto
and trumpet by
Fin Fior
. There are still explosive bursts of noisy guitar, but they're more controlled, and rendered in technicolor due to the expansive, dazzling production. Previously released song "Insomnia" reappears in a more vibrant, improved mix, while "We Shine at Night" is the album's most awe-inspiring track, moving from strong vocal melodies to a delicate breakdown and decibel-shredding screams. "Sketchbook" incorporates chirping crickets as well as vocoders, fuzzy electronic processing, and a moment of heavy, thudding dance beats. The elaborate arrangements and sonic trickery never distract from the urgency and emotional power of the songs themselves.
is a work of wonder. ~ Paul Simpson
is an anonymous musician from South Korea whose music is a noisy, cathartic blend of emo and shoegaze, occasionally with arrangements complex and ambitious enough to be labeled as post-rock or math rock. They released several primarily instrumental albums, mostly under the now-discontinued alias
laststar
, before making a huge splash online with 2021's
To See the Next Part of the Dream
, which was recorded entirely on the artist's home computer and self-released without any promotion. Following an EP of outtakes as well as a split release and a collaboration,
released third album
After the Magic
in 2023, this time with
Topshelf Records
issuing the physical editions. While previous
efforts were certainly highly impressive considering that they were no-budget bedroom recordings by an unknown artist, they still felt somewhat limited -- the spirit and energy were there, but the artist's technical abilities hadn't fully developed yet, and there was definitely an amateur quality to them. No such problems plague
, however. The album is
's breakthrough moment, featuring their most memorable songwriting to date as well as their most stunning arrangements. Not quite as overtly emo-influenced as previous releases,
draws more from chiming, melodic '90s alt-rock, adding electronic flourishes such as glitches and subtle breakbeats, and even approaching chamber pop with string arrangements from
Vampillia
's
Rei Miyamoto
and trumpet by
Fin Fior
. There are still explosive bursts of noisy guitar, but they're more controlled, and rendered in technicolor due to the expansive, dazzling production. Previously released song "Insomnia" reappears in a more vibrant, improved mix, while "We Shine at Night" is the album's most awe-inspiring track, moving from strong vocal melodies to a delicate breakdown and decibel-shredding screams. "Sketchbook" incorporates chirping crickets as well as vocoders, fuzzy electronic processing, and a moment of heavy, thudding dance beats. The elaborate arrangements and sonic trickery never distract from the urgency and emotional power of the songs themselves.
is a work of wonder. ~ Paul Simpson
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