Every musician’s dream is to hit it off big and tour the world playing their music to all the loyal fans that support them and gaining some fans along the way. Not every band’s trajectory is linear though. In the case of Panchiko, the group dropped their dreams of being a popular band almost 20 years before they would eventually become relevant. The original members of Panchiko had gone their separate ways in 2001. Still, in 2016, the group’s first album released in 2000, “D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L,” would gain traction as it was passed around through online messaging boards after first being discovered by someone who found the CD at a thrift store. Today, the group has nearly 1 million listeners on Spotify and has been touring regularly. It is easy to see why people love the group. To me, after only one listen of the album years ago, nearly every track stood out, but my favorite might have to be “Sodium Chloride.”
“Sodium Chloride” is a showcase of the beautifully unique blend of sounds that Panchiko offers with every track. The group meshes elements of dream pop, indie rock, shoegaze and psychedelic rock that all create a hodgepodge sure to amaze listeners. The track starts softly, and a somber acoustic guitar strums as lead singer Owain Davies opens:
“Dry skin falling away /
How did green find the words to say?”
Listeners are left to fall deeper into space and the dreamy landscapes produced by the music. Shooting electronic backings fill the air as the guitar continues, and we are led into the chorus:
“Don’t let the tears build up the years /
Don’t let the tears build up the years.”
The empty and bleak background is soon filled following the chorus adding in some smooth drums only adding depth to the already multilayered and detailed composition. The emotion seems to only build as the band begins the second verse:
“Dry lips and tears in the rain /
No hips, you’re here to keep me safe /
Fall out and patches of blue sky /
No doubt we’re here to keep these lies.”
The chorus is repeated following a slim breather, but as emotions have already begun to build, they soon come crumbling down, all finally being unleashed in the outro. The singing is elevated in pitch and gives listeners the feeling of someone truly wearing their heart on their sleeve, feeling what all of us do at times with Owain releasing:
“‘Cause no one will notice you (When you’re gone) /
Notice you (When you’re gone) /
Notice you (When you’re gone) /
Will notice you (When you’re gone) /
Will notice you (When you’re gone) /
Will notice you (When you’re gone).”
The ending is far from happy, but it is nearly impossible not to be completely immersed in the diverse sounds provided by Panchiko throughout the track. Listeners can completely drift away before it is ultimately interrupted by the rampant emotions of the outro. The song stands out as something that doesn’t conform to just one thing instead blending the sounds of so many genres and influences to leave us listeners satisfied as we forget about the world for a moment and escape into a deep space that Panchiko takes us to.
