Pan American

Pan American | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 1998)
• Original Release Date: March 28, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Kranky
• ASIN: B0000061I5
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #240,898 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

URB

Stunning. It's that simple, and simple is the keyword here. This is understatement as art. Pan-American is the work of Mark Nelson ... member of LaBradford.... Listen carefully and you'll hear echoes of wounded, wasted jazz and cavern-deep, shell-shocked bossa nova ... where whispery, tin-cup vocals and mescal-soaked guitar lines conspire to produce some righteous, late-night porch dub.

Product Description

Mark Nelson of Labradford fame has gone solo under the name Pan American. Splinters of whispers, chilly organs, faint hints of guitars, space-dub bass, and ratcheting electronic pings and blips recall early Aphex Twin, but the spacewalking sound is warmer, richer and more bewitching. Unlike Labradford, which at times can be a bit arch, Nelson brings things down to the point at which the music is an enveloping primordial ooze which lulls and pacifies. That's not to say it's boring; far from it. In fact, Nelson's adeptly structured sonic landscapes are lush, dense and intricate. Many of the tracks play on a similar theme, which makes them flow into one another with a calming seamlessness. In a further effort at sublime tranquillity, "Lake Supplies" utilizes a soothingly hypnotic hammer dulcimer for an additional mystic quality. Pan American is not something to put on when in search of a pick-me-up, but it makes for some of the best unwinding music around. ~ Matthew Hilburn, All Music Guide --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stunning debut from LaBradford guitarist Mark Nelson, October 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Pan American (Audio CD)

Dubbed out bossa nova slowed down to the point of stasis. Half-whispered vocals like aural hallucinations. The sound of flickering neon beginning to fuse. Bursts of radio interference. Carefully crafted, resolutely rhythmic, a stunning debut.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars catharsis, January 24, 2002

By 

Scott D. Ewen (San Francisco, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pan American (Audio CD)

not much to say about this record beyond the fact that it's brilliantly executed and manages to hit every nerve in my musical soul.

a collage of sounds and echoes without being washed out. there's a distinctive dub feel to the rythyms and extended pieces which i really enjoyed. the vocals are ghostly and unobtrusive, and just float on top of the music.

if you're a fan of labradford, god speed..., tortoise etc, you'll love this addition to the genre.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Everything I Expected, December 16, 2001

By 

Kevin Barrack (San Mateo, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pan American (Audio CD)

This disc is everything I expected after listening to the sound clips. The music is very mellow, but also manages maintain a groovy soul feel. The guitar sound reminds me of Chris Isaak, but the music is definitely not similar in any other regard. This CD is a great way to begin the day, and I often listen to it first thing in the morning. It's also good for winding down at night, or in the background while working.

Listen to the sound clips, and if you like what you hear then you won't be disappointed. If they don't catch your interest, then you won't like the disc.