Petrichor returns from the shadows after two years of hiatus and makes himself known with “Dancing Puppet,” an enthralling and personal new cut from the alternative/indie artist. The song, the first single from an upcoming project, “A BLACK DOG,” wastes little time plunging headlong into the emotional bedlam that has defined his provocations.
“Dancing Puppet” is a comeback and a statement. Petrichor journeys you through a dark, industrial world constructed of haunting synths, stacked distortion, and thundering bass-heavy drums. An intense affectation here reflects the inner turmoil the artist is attempting to convey. It’s here to confront.
Buoying the track above its cloud of grit is an openness that’s as gutting as it is empowering. Petrichor sings every line with a gothic distance. There are ghostly harmonies and hints of pain in the delivery. In it, his voice hovers somewhere between haunting and hypnotic, which feels fitting when you learn that its inspiration was a deep and personal struggle with Pure O, a particularly severe misunderstood form of OCD.
With this metaphor of becoming a “Dancing Puppet,” Petrichor untangles the suffocating hold of compulsive rituals and the loneliness of being haunted by intrusive thoughts. But instead of romanticizing his demons, he sets them out raw and lets you feel the heft of his mental battle. It’s a bold artistic move that provides solidarity for those fighting similar battles and enlightenment for those who are not.
“Dancing Puppet” is a portrait of survival as drawn in noise, shadow, and plainspoken lyricism. As a first taste of “A BLACK DOG,” it hints at a project that won’t be afraid to delve into emotional depth or risk. Petrichor has obviously taken the time to hone their art, and the net result is a chilling, haunting reintroduction that lingers long. This is a song you experience. And on it, Petrichor shows he is here, he’s not diminished, and he’s not going anywhere.
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