The simplicity of the beautiful things or the beauty of the simple things? You are just given the right to create your own landscape. No compromise whatsoever in terms of time and space. You choose.

Coming from the Virginian trio Labradford, Mark Nelson (guitarist of said band) ventures into his own territory with the solo project Pan-American. Labradfords music has been known to have gorgeously simple arrangements that can affect the listener in different ways and this album by Pan-American is the same in it's own way. Electric guitar melodies sail over the top of "Before" (the first track on the album) with some backwards guitar complementing the melody well as a whispered voice speaks underneath the mix, sounding nothing like what I have heard Labradford do as yet. The second song, "Wing" builds on top of a static loop with synths as a low bass begins playing a reptitive figure. It takes 3 minutes before percussion can be heard and as it continues the song develops a slight un-nerving feel but in the most relaxing way... one could almost say it is the closest to an audio drug you will ever hear in the way it builds and creates feelings (just try it with your headphones on). This song has shades of Labradford to it, think of a mix between "Fixed::Content" and "E Luxo So" and you get the song "Wing".

"Inside Elevation" and 'Skylight" both have an upright bass and drums played by other musicians. The prior also having trumpet and flugelhorn playing over the strangely reverberated cymbals with an acoustic guitar playing a distant melody. The latter sounds much more simplistic and lacks any atmospheric synth sounds as a dual of acoustic and electric guitar play the opening part, as the synth floats in to be joined by drums and upright bass and the now so familiar whispering voice.

I would have to say this album is something to be listened to intently and in a relaxed environment because it is nothing like Labradfords work yet would not sound too out of place in the Labradford discography either.

I have given it 4 stars but if the rating were available I would have given it 3.5 stars or somewhere between that and 4. Enjoyable album.

Pan American is the solo project of Labradfor guitarist Mark Nelson. He's quite the prolific artist, with somewhere around ten albums to his name. This album is one of the best to be released by Kranky this year, and that's saying a lot. 2004 has probably been the best year the chicago label has ever had, even though one of their better artists, Low, left for Sub Pop.

Quiet City settles somewhere comfortably between Labradford's later albums and Stars of the Lid's later albums. The music much more sparse than most people are used to, but with repeated listens, Quiet City reveals a plethora of interesting sounds and textures.

Besides the album being a wonderful experience, a bonus dvd is included with videos for every song. These short films look like the kind of stuff that would be played at a godspeed you black emperor show, for those of you who've had the pleasure to see them. The films fit perfectly with the music, and overall the experience is very hypnotic.

If you're already a fan of Kranky music, and haven't gotton around to getting it yet, this album is a must-have. It will be on my year end list of favorite albums.