Magical Relics: Remnants of a Bygone Era

After the magic parannoulk, life in the kingdom changed drastically. The parannoulk, a magical creature that had been the source of prosperity and abundance, suddenly disappeared from the land. The people were left in a state of shock and uncertainty. Without the parannoulk, the kingdom's economy began to crumble. The once fertile fields turned barren, and crops failed to grow. The kingdom's wealth rapidly declined, and poverty became widespread among its inhabitants.

This wants to rely too much on pop techniques while keeping a lo-fi sound and I do not abide. My eyes rolled more than my interest peaked when Polaris climaxed and the damage was irreparable from that moment on.

After the Magic falls into the same trap that The Smiths final record Strangways, Here We Come did it s a well made album that I enjoy in the moment that offers good music but I just don t care about it enough to think that it s good. A dream that will never be forgotten Is a dream that will never come true Come to me Come to me Because that s what life is all about We are becoming adults little by little That s what life is all about anyway We are becoming adults little by little.

The kingdom's wealth rapidly declined, and poverty became widespread among its inhabitants. It was a dark and desperate time for the people. In addition to the economic impact, the absence of the parannoulk had a profound effect on the kingdom's culture.

After the magic parannoulk

The sound of this album is different from his other works but still amazing in every way.
I feel like i could listen to this album for hours and hours and still not get bored of it.
This album is also extremely consistent, it feels like every track should be there

I swear this dude just wont miss

This wants to rely too much on pop techniques while keeping a lo-fi sound and I do not abide. My eyes rolled more than my interest peaked when Polaris climaxed and the damage was irreparable from that moment on.

Damn it, I wanted to like this more. After the Magic falls into the same trap that The Smiths’ final record Strangways, Here We Come did: it’s a well made album that I enjoy in the moment that offers good music but I just don’t care about it enough to think that it’s good. I get the appeal, but personally I’d rather listen to the other five projects Parannoul has made before this.

You know those moments when the temperature is absolutely fucking freezing, so you curl and wrap yourself up in a cozy thick blanket, and you feel the delicate yet powerful interplay of the waves of cold breaking against the warmth of your body, and it's this sublime contrast that makes you aware of your perfectly snug little place in the Universe, every breath a microscopic catharsis. It's incredible, euphoric and all-encompassing, glorious sensory bliss driven only by temperature.

And that's what this album sounds like. Just this really maximalist mixture of swelling, glorious pop melodies overlaid by textured noise, each song peaking with emotion. The only weakness that it's not particularly varied in sound, and it's a bit of a monolithic block of music at times, but it's a beautiful monolithic block of music that clinches best album of 2023 for now, and that will certainly take some beating.

Picks: pretty much everything, with the streak of Arrival, We Shine at Night, Parade being brilliant, but also the closing title-track.

After the Magic is a record that consistently manages to bring you back to those days, back to those places, back to when the magic was still present. And for those reason, I love it.

I think this album has the highest peaks in Parannoul's discography, absolute beautiful moments that transport you to the album cover. This is partially because of the album's approach I believe but also because of Parannoul's growth as a musician, which is really noticeable after listening to To See the Next Part of the Dream.

Fav tracks: Polaris, Insomnia, We Shine at Night

Honestly, I did not know what to expect before listening to this. Hell, I didn't even know that the album would be in Korean. But this album is gorgeous. This album is such a change of pace from what I'd normally listen to and I absolutely love it.

The production here is absolutely gorgeous, each song is long and maximalist. Every single tool at Parannoul's disposal must have been used to make this and it really shows. This albums soundscape can probably be analyzed for hours on end, and I absolutely love it. One of the best soundscapes here is on Blossom. The screaming vocals, the acoustic guitar, but the very clearly synthesized backgrounds all come together so well, and I don't know how Parannoul would be able to pull this off. A lot of these sound arrangements would not work in a lot of other artists albums, but yet they work here, and that makes this album so unique sounding and gorgeous.

I wish I spoke Korean so I could break down some of these lyrics, because it does sound like Parannoul has a lot to say.

Overall this album is gorgeous, and it sounds rich. It is the shoegaze equivalent of fine dining. If I could understand what the fuck Parannoul is saying, this album would no doubt have a higher rating for me.

More instruments are used to present a brighter sunlight color, and it broke through the previous confined emo/shoegaze snowflake interface in the bedroom. The stronger and livelier beats sprinkle dreamy spots on this grand and nostalgic rock sound wall. The clearer vocals, along with the beautiful and colorful strings, acoustic guitars, piano keys, and electronic synthesizers, attempt to fly towards the clear sky.

However, the meticulous arrangement weakens the emotional impact. The abundance of repetitive melodic lumps becomes tiresome, and even though there're some touching sound moments, they cannot save the overall dragging feeling. It's strange how the pure and moving "tragic and passionate" vibe from To See the Next Part of the Dream disappears here, replaced by some kind of clever craftsmanship.

After listening for five months, it seems that the second half of the album is better. I wonder if it's because I always feel tired after listening to the first half and then turn it off.

器乐的愈加丰富呈现出更为明艳的日光色彩，穿破了先前蜷缩在卧室里的emo/shoegaze雪花界面，更坚实和活泼的节拍动力在这宏大又怀旧的摇滚音墙上洒下梦幻的光点，更加明晰的人声也随着清澈又绚丽的弦乐，原声吉他，琴键和电子合成器试图飞向晴空。但编曲上的精细呈现也削弱了音乐中情绪的感染力，大量雷同的旋律色块令人疲惫，即便有足够动人的声响瞬间也无法拯救整体的拖沓听感。很奇怪《To See the Next Part of the Dream》中如此纯净感人的“悲情热血”意境在这里消失殆尽，将其取代的是某种讨巧的匠气/ 听了五个月，似乎后半张更好，不知道是不是我每次听完前半张就嫌累然后关掉的原因。

There’s no such thing as a band that sounds exactly like any other band (unless it’s some wedding band covering “I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight”). Each band, whether it comes with their singer, or some little flourish that their bass player throws on the off beats like cayenne pepper on chicken, has SOMETHING remotely distinctive about them. And this Seoul-ful bedroom boffin that calls himself Parannoul has managed something rather amazing. The guy has developed a sound so instantaneously recognizable and identifiable that he should be making as much money from a patent office as he does from Bandcamp. When Parannoul powers up his crushing cyber-roar, there’s very little else that comes close to the experience. Sure: you could throw some chiptune pop a la Crying into an Erlenmeyer flash, mix in a dash of The Joy Formidable and maybe some Panopticon, and serve the mixture to a screened-out garbage pale kid who never leaves their room, and you might get something close to Parannoul. But you wouldn’t get Parannoul. The guy has an original formula here, and I commend him highly for it. It’s a pity that I have a hard time getting properly enfolded into the embrace of this music. My suspicion with To See The Next Part Of The Dream was that I couldn’t get into the songs because the sound was so unpleasant to me. And I get it. Budgetary constraints can wreck an album mix faster than Jimmy Iovine. But I have it in me to blow the grit and sand off of a mix like Indiana Jones and enjoy the songs. The Fall’s Dragnet sounds like it was recorded in the London Tube during the Blitz, and I value that record to pieces. And I value After The Magic as well, for teaching me that it was both the sound quality AND the song quality that drove me off of To See The Next Part Of The Dream. After The Magic is somewhat more sonically cleaned up, and I still don’t enjoy it all that much. Forget the fact that it’s in Korean (or so I’ve been told). The thing with K-Rock is that I don’t speak the K, but I speak the Rock just fine, and I’ve having trouble with Parannoul’s songwriting. This seems to be filed under “emo” because the ethos here is “mostly catharsis, most of the time.” And sure, emo needs to have its wall-shredding, glass punching catharses. But over the course of 1/24th of a day, this album demands cathartic responses from me so often that I find myself feeling like Cosmo Kramer when he refused, without principle, to wear an AIDS ribbon. It’s like…what if I don’t wanna get wrapped up in your endless catharsis? A version of the Bible featuring sixty-six different versions of the book of Revelation might be enlightening for one book, entertaining for two books, and tedious for sixty-four books. So it is with Parannoul. It’s not like there’s nothing for me to get my under fingernails here. “Imagination” is a perfectly serviceable summery pop tune with a back end that jacks the chord progression from Cheap Trick’s “Surrender” (and the Minutemen already did that better on “The Glory Of Man”). The back end of “Sketchbook” jacks the acoustic guitar hook from Supertramp’s “Give A Little Bit,”. noticing a pattern here? “We Shine At Night” actually progresses in a decently memorable way, but it’s the exception that proves the rule here. Without an abundance of hooks or memorable melodies, all I’m left with is the SOUND of the album. And, I’m sorry y’all, I don’t believe that sound alone is enough to carry an album to greatness. Albums that get by on sound alone are shuffled into the midsections of soon-to-be-forgotten weekly indie vibes mixes curated by Spotify algorithms. And if Parannoul can’t deliver any real melodies for me, then I’m afraid that indie vibes is all we have here.

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The inhabitants had relied on the magic of the parannoulk for their everyday needs. It had provided them with clean water, warm homes, and protected them from harm. Now, they had to learn how to survive without it. As the years went by, the people began to adapt to the new reality. They worked tirelessly to find alternative solutions to their problems. They developed innovative farming techniques, constructed better irrigation systems, and built stronger homes to withstand the elements. Slowly but surely, the kingdom started to rebuild itself. However, it was not just the physical aspects of life that had changed. The disappearance of the parannoulk had also affected the people's belief system. They no longer relied on magic to solve their problems. Instead, they focused on their own abilities and skills. They discovered that they were capable of achieving great things through hard work and perseverance. The absence of the parannoulk had forced the people to come together and support one another. They formed tight-knit communities, sharing resources and knowledge. They learned to appreciate the value of unity and cooperation. The kingdom became a place of resilience and strength. Years later, word spread that a young girl had discovered a baby parannoulk in the nearby forest. The news ignited a renewed sense of hope and excitement among the people. Perhaps the magic would return to the kingdom once more. While the people were eager to welcome back the parannoulk, they knew that they had already overcome great challenges without it. They had learned to stand on their own feet and had grown stronger as a result. They were no longer dependent on magic but had become resilient and self-reliant. The parannoulk's return was a joyous occasion for the people, but it was no longer seen as the only source of prosperity. The kingdom had evolved and embraced change, and the parannoulk became a symbol of their determination and resilience. Life after the magic parannoulk was never the same, but it had become richer in its own way. The people had learned to appreciate the value of hard work, unity, and their own capabilities. They had discovered that true magic lies within themselves..

Reviews for "The Art of Illusion: The Role of Magic in Performance Art and Entertainment"

1. Samantha - 2 stars - After the Magic Parannoulk was a huge disappointment for me. The plot was confusing and poorly developed. There were too many characters introduced without any real purpose or backstory, making it difficult to keep track of who was who. The writing style was also lacking, with awkward sentence structure and repetitive phrasing. Overall, I found it to be a sloppy and disjointed read.

2. Mark - 1 star - I can't believe I wasted my time reading After the Magic Parannoulk. The story was incredibly boring and predictable. The author failed to create any sense of suspense or tension, and the ending was completely unsatisfying. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it impossible to care about their fates. The dialogue was also stilted and unrealistic. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

3. Jessica - 2 stars - After the Magic Parannoulk had so much potential, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, with unnecessary details and descriptions that did nothing to further the story. The world-building was also haphazard and confusing, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. The main character was also unlikable, with questionable motivations and inconsistent actions. Overall, I was left feeling disappointed and unfulfilled after reading this book.

4. Alex - 1 star - After the Magic Parannoulk was a complete waste of time. The plot was weak and predictable, with no real surprises or twists. The writing style was also amateurish and repetitive, with unnecessary filler sentences that added nothing to the story. The characters were flat and unrelatable, making it impossible to form any emotional connection with them. I regret picking up this book and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling read.

Remembering the Spells: Oral Histories of Magic Users