360 Business/360 Bypass

Pan American | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 14, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Kranky
• ASIN: B00004RDHE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,649 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This is the second solo outing from Labradford's Mark Nelson under the Pan-American moniker. While Labradford is firmly identified with the drone-rock and postrock aesthetics, Pan-American appears to be his vehicle for exploring a fascination with the experimental electronic music associated with Berlin's Chain Reaction label, specifically the groups Monolake and Porter Ricks. Nelson shares their approach to creating a rhythmic backbone; instead of booming, breakbeat drum-machine patterns, each pearl of a song accretes around a starkly simple pulse that's not too many evolutionary steps beyond the click of a scratched vinyl record as it rotates. Nelson layers equally minimalist electronics on top, and the record's most singular element is the muted but insistent cornet of Rob Masurek. Masurek, on loan from the Chicago Underground Duo and Him (among others), is featured throughout the two longest tracks. Another intriguing guest spot is occupied by Al Sparhawk and Mimi Parker of the group Low, who contribute the almost incongruous vocals. --Bob Bannister

Product Description

Mark Nelson's second album as Pan American has a similar sound to his debut, and a similar charm as well. Recorded with Casey Rice, 360 Business/360 Bypass is a work of atmospheric, melancholy dub minimalism whose closest stylistic companions are experimental-techno producers (Pole, Basic Channel, Senking), though with analogue elements instead of digital. Thanks to his large body of work with Labradford, Nelson knows how to structure long freeform tracks for maximum effect, and the result is a collection of tracks that are uniformly beatiful despite (or perhaps because of) their sparse feel. True, "Code" would have been much more beautiful without the added vocals of Mimi Sparhawk and Al Sparhawk from Low, and Rob Mazurek's trumpet doesn't contribute to "Double Rail" as much as it takes away from it, but 360 Business/360 Bypass is nevertheless an excellent piece of ambient minimalism. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Making a Virtue of Understatement, April 2, 2002

By 

Christopher R. DeFay (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 360 Business/360 Bypass (Audio CD)

This album by Pan-American is a very beautiful, very austere collection of songs. If you like your music stripped down, yet still with enough melodic tooth to keep you subliminally interested you'll surely enjoy this album. Strongly recommended...

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bliss out ! ...., April 12, 2000

By 

Paul Prince (Toronto) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 360 Business/360 Bypass (Audio CD)

Well well well... Mark Nelson eh? Aren't you the new music media darling yet?... HE WILL BE. This is an absolutely stunning collection of tracks ranging from "Pole"like atmospheres to eno/delerium style pieces. A must for anyone who bought "Pole", "Plone" or "Labradford" releases or anyone who just wants to hear some of the most beautiful music being created today.

5.0 out of 5 stars Magic, May 18, 2011

By 

Lösungslabor (Berlin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 360 Business/ 360 Bypass (MP3 Download)

I love this CD, to me it's magic. Probably a matter of taste. Some people get it, some don't. My life would be poorer without this music. I don't want to argue with people who argue with that. ;)