BrokenTeeth
How to Sink Slowly


4.0
excellent

Review

by Sunnyvale STAFF
March 8th, 2023 | 18 replies


Release Date: 02/23/2023 | Tracklist

Review Summary: A splash of color

How To Sink Slowly sounds like its artwork might suggest - the music therein retains a certain inherent vibrancy, but the songs always feel a little “blurred”. No matter how beautiful a given moment gets (and it’s frequently “very”), there remains a sort of ambivalence about the proceedings. Mainly, this is just a question of emotion: things teeter on the brink of dizzying elation and subdued melancholy all at once, in a manner that theoretically shouldn’t be possible. Perhaps this shouldn’t be a surprise, as BrokenTeeth have provided us with a textured work which operates in that delicate space bordering post-rock, shoegaze, and slowcore, while managing to incorporate both the warmth and coldness which can be derived from those genre traditions.

Well, the songs: all ten tracks on the record are quite pretty, even if some of them don’t achieve the heights of the highlights. Said highlights, though, are awesome - opener “The Sun Is Setting” is a shimmering journey in its own right, over and done in five minutes, while “walkerrrr…” utilizes a catchy, Americana-esque chord progression to become one of the more instantly-recognizable numbers. Meanwhile, late in the tracklist, “Spring” sprawls to nearly eight minutes and is distinguished by a cascading guitar solo which consumes much of its latter half.

How To Sink Slowly will draw inevitable comparisons to Parannoul’s latest, After The Magic. Both artists hail from the same country (South Korea) and the same general scene (pick whatever name you’d like to call it). And, indeed, BrokenTeeth’s latest does dip into much of the same sonic influences as Parannoul recently did. The vibes here are a bit different, though. How To Sink Slowly can be absolutely gorgeous at times, but it never quite aspires to the radiant and ebullient joy which dominatesAfter The Magic. Instead, this record feels like a more thoughtful and meditative listen. While a few songs don’t quite live up to the high bar set by its best moments, How To Sink Slowly is a worthwhile listen for those with any interest in the assorted genres BrokenTeeth have delved into here.



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user ratings (25)
3.3
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
March 8th 2023


6175 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I set out to write a one paragraph review for this album, but it didn't quite come together that way. Anyway, a short writeup for a record which doesn't really do any one thing exceptionally but I quite like as a whole.

Snake.
March 8th 2023


25376 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

way better than parannoul

Purpl3Spartan
March 9th 2023


8992 Comments


Looks dope will check

tasteful prose like always

Digging: Tenue - Arcos, b??vedas, p??rticos

pizzamachine
March 9th 2023


27668 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

This album exists.

RedRightHand
March 9th 2023


229 Comments


Codeine meets flying saucer attack meets Dino Jr.

RedRightHand
March 9th 2023


229 Comments


Codeine meets flying saucer attack meets Dino Jr.

RedRightHand
March 9th 2023


229 Comments


Codeine meets flying saucer attack meets Dino Jr.

ashcrash9
Contributing Reviewer
March 23rd 2023


3395 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

thought the debut had potential and this definitely expanded on it. exactly what I look in for this type of music

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
April 2nd 2023


62343 Comments

Album Rating: 3.7

Oh damn, I missed this review. Album is really lovely at points and rarely bites off more than it can chew (though it could shed the post-rock hmm). Definitely a nudge ahead of the new Parannoul, even if it doesn't quite challenge any of his best standalone pieces

Sunny have you heard Della Zyr? Her December EP is probably the best maximalistradiant thing I've heard from this scene

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
April 2nd 2023


62343 Comments

Album Rating: 3.7

Gosh this opener is just perfect

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
April 2nd 2023


6175 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah, this is really pretty...



I've heard Della Zyr's LP and liked it, guess I need to check the EP too!

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
April 2nd 2023


62343 Comments

Album Rating: 3.7

They're technically both EPs despite being of ample length lol, but the second is epic and robust (albeit with some weird prod choices) in ways that the first only teased at

pizzamachine
April 2nd 2023


27668 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I sank slowly into this album.

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
April 2nd 2023


6175 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Interesting, will have to check!

afterthenight
July 30th 2023


28 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

you can really float to this album. i love the melodies too, remind me of some shibuya kei stuff

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
July 30th 2023


62343 Comments

Album Rating: 3.7

what shibuya kei stuff lol, did not get that vibe at all from this

Snake.
July 30th 2023


25376 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

gotta revisit this to see if my claim still holds up

neekafat
Staff Reviewer
November 18th 2023


26706 Comments

Album Rating: 3.6

yeah this is really nice



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