nicht unbedingt drone, aber nahe dran ... 10/10 punkten

Pan American

Pan American ist das Soloprojekt von Mark Nelson, dessen Hauptbeschäftigung darin besteht, bei der Band Labradford die Gitarre zu bearbeiten.
Seine erste Soloplatte mit dem Namen "Pan American" kam 1998 beim Chicagoer Label Kranky heraus, bei dem Nelson auch weiterhin veröffentlicht. Unter dem Kürzel Pan Am hat Nelson schon für das Fat Cat Label einen Track für die Split 12" mit Janek Schaefer beigesteuert. 2000 dann kam die Platte "360 Business / 360 Bypass" heraus.
Seine Musik setzt im Vergleich zu seiner Hauptband mehr auf dezente rhythmische Patterns und rückt damit eher in Brian Enos Nähe als, wie vermutet, in die des Krautrock. Dabei wird aber stets darauf geachtet, das analoge Equipment nicht zu vernachlässigen, was zu einer spannenden Fusion von analoger und elektronischer Musik führt.


During the summer of 1997 Mark Nelson started recording a full length album for kranky, splitting his time between working at home and at the Sound of Music Studios in Richmond, Virginia. Mark Nelson had been playing guitar and singing in Labradford, but wanted to explore the possibilities of sampling and computer technology as well as activating his interest in dub and techno.

The self-titled debut Pan American album came out on kranky in early 1998. The dub influence was pervasive; the resulting sound cavernous with echoed percussion and resonant bass drones, Nelson's hushed vocals dwelling somewhere in the middle-ground.

Nelson continued to work on Pan American material in tandem to his work with Labradford, learning to play pedal steel guitar, releasing singles on European labels and getting in some studio time with studio engineer Casey Rice. Rob Mazurek from Chicago Underground Trio and Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker of Low contributed coronet and vocals, respectively. The resulting album 360 Business/360 Bypass was released by kranky in North America (and Blast First in Europe) in early 2000. The album was lauded by the alternative music press in America as "The first unassailably great album of the century" (Fred Mills, Magnet).

More singles and compilation tracks followed, along with the odd live performance. Nelson's placement behind a synthesizer and mixing desk belied the improvisational nature of the live mix. Between sternum-rattling bass rhythms and Nelson's willingness to challenge an audience with outbursts of static, Pan American shows went beyond the usual knob-twiddling and smooth noodle maps.

The third Pan American record was entitled The River Made No Sound and was released in April 2002 by kranky in North America and Vertical Form in Europe. Mark Nelson said, "When I started I really had it in mind to make a more rhythmic record influenced by house music. I did the whole thing at home by myself, so I guess by the end my natural inclination towards ambience and peaceful textures won out." Stripped back compared to previous albums, The River Made No Sound traded dub undertow for percussive points, field recordings and an ominous hum.

Since late 2002 Mark Nelson has been preparing the fourth Pan American album. Returning to the use of organic instruments, as is his bent, and singing a few songs, Nelson has entitled the new album Quiet City. It will be released worldwide on kranky in July 2004.


pan american discographyPan American LP/CD [kranky 25]
split 12 inch with Janek Schaefer [Fat Cat, UK]
Quarry A/Quarry B 10 inch [K-RAA-K, Belgium]
360 Business/36-0 Bypass LP/CD [kranky/Blast First]
East Coast Bugs b/w Esso 12 inch [BSI]
Unleft on Kid 606 P.S. You Love Me CD [Milleplateaux, Germany]
Pan American Remix on PSI Performer Art Is A Division of Pain - Remixed
2 CD [K20 Germany]
Personal Settings split EP with Komet and Fisherofgold [Quartermass]
The River Made No Sound DLP/CD [kranky/Vertical Form]
Fake Philly Strings on Various Artists Night Owls 02 [Deluxe]
split 7 inch with To Rocco Rot [Unhip, Italy]
quiet city cd+dvd [kranky 65]

joa egal was da jetzt alles steht, ich finds gediegen. wurde mir nahegelegt im Zusammenhang mit SWOD - Gehen, ruhig und experimentell. schnaffte musi...

quiet city und the river made no sound sind der hammer !!!