Pan American is Mark Nelson originally of the post-rock band Labradford. Unlike Labradford, Pan
American’s music is largely ambient electronic, showing influence of the chain reaction or basic channel school of minimal techno. Pan Americans albums are both few and far between, but always noteworthy. White Bird Release is Mark Nelsons sixth solo album and continues with a basic Pan American formula of slow moving evocative ambient, combining acoustic instruments, drones, glitch and dub. The biggest alteration in Nelson’s latest work is a greater emphasis on the organic electroacoustic part, where instruments takes a more central stage over dub and glitch elements present in past releases. The track titles are taken from a 1926 Robert Goddard quotation which reads: “There can be no thought of finishing, for ‘aiming at the stars’ - both figuratively and literally - is a problem to occupy generations, so that no matter how much progress one makes, there is always the thrill of just beginning.”. The American scientist was speaking in the context of space and rocketry, but may just as well have been speaking about Pan American.