Anyone know what LABRADFORD is up to?

try Rothko, Fuel. anything pre-Too Pure, like the "Storm Cycle" 10", either of the Lo Recordings CDs, and the cdr on Burning Shed. they will not disappoint.

It's really good. I miss them.

I think Carter and his wife live in the Phillipines now and Bobby is the only one in Virginia. I could be wrong but that's the last I heard.

Yes, that's the one. a bit boring I thought

no.

yes

no

yes

no

yes

duh, I mean no

haha

poll?

It's slow, contemplative music. There are no pyrotechnics and leather-pants. Perhaps boring for some tastes, but in my book Labradford-- particularly on their last 3 albums-- is among the most interesting and affecting bands I've ever heard.

Well upthread I was just saying how I found E Luxo So pretty boring as compared say to Mi Media Naranja.

Fixed: Content: The Cat's Pajamas

Quiet City on a grey october sunday afternoon

E Luxo So is a good album imho

That it is. Might play it here myself (it's a grey October Sunday morning).

nice

Fixed:Context > Mi Media Naranja > E Luxo So > the self-titled with the white cover > the earlier two albums

that's almost exactly backwards, by my lights.

i agree

I'm biased towards E Luxo So because we toured with them on that album so I heard it every night for a few weeks.

I think Fixed:Content takes it for me as well. 'Twenty' is such a phenomenal piece. E Luxo So and Mi Media Naranja aren't far behind though.

It's "Fixed::Context" ffs! I'd have thought Labradford fans would be quite, hmm, precise.

I used to listen to these guys a lot. I noticed that Prazision, their first album, was re-released a while back, but I didn't bother picking it up. Perhaps worth getting after all? I only have their last 4 albums -- missing the first 2.

And, both tracks from Labradford's first 7" are included in the re-issue.

So what are these fellows up to now anyway?

pan american

count me in as someone who prefers the first two, Prazision is great.

yeah the first two are where it's at for me also. couldn't get into the stuff after that

The last three are great and would serve perfectly as soundtracks for David Lynch movies.

It is snowing here now and E Luxo So is the perfect soundtrack to it.

are these guys' new bands any good?

I've been a Labradford fan for 15 years, but I still don't like/get/appreciate their first 3 albums, which apparently a lot of people think are their best.

It's been a while since I've listened to the later albums - is the 4th one where they essentially became an instrumental group? I feel like the vocals sort of mark the divide between fans of the first 3 and people who don't like them.

There are vocals on the 1st, 3rd, and 4th albums - I can't remember if any vocals show up on the last two.

Or... I think there are vocals on the fourth?? Suddenly it's all running together in my head.

Spending the morning listening to the last four Pan American albums in a row... this is a very nice feeling.

Anjou is now available... stores, spotify, iTunes, etc.

I'm on my second spin. Very minimal. Fans of Nelson's past work will like it though to me it doesn't sound much like Labradford, if that's the expectation. For one, Nelson doesn't play guitar on this album.

And a new Anjou album coming soon, here's the first track:

https://soundcloud.com/kranky/anjou-soucouyant

Nice track. Wasn't even aware of Anjou!

Labradford are a band I keep coming back to - something in the stately progress, that sense of metallic dust in abandoned rooms... I always listen to them on planes, for some reason.

Anyway, don't see a reference to the Aix Em Klemm album anywhere on the thread. It's got Robert Donne on it (with him off Stars of the Lid, Adam Wiltzie), and is quietly magnificent in its way.

Aix Em Klemm album is up there with both Labradford and SotL's best works imho.

Yeah, that's a great record.

Had forgotten how great Mi Media Naranja is.

I had my clear preferences as they came out, but despite still having favorites, whenever I return to the entire body of work I have a harder time designating one significantly better than the others.

Mi Media Naranja is the one.

Fixed Conent is a close second, but yes.

*Context

x-posts.

Yeah, I can see that. I wouldn't be able to make a coherent argument that MMN is "the best" though it's the one I most frequently return to. "Fixed: Context" is sounding good, right now.

I think each album grows out of the last, and that they really hit upon their path with the s/t album, perfected it with Mi Media Naranja, took an interesting left turn on E Luxo So, and then made what is essentially the quintessential "Labradford" album with Fixed::Context. Which is to say I can pretty much appreciate why anyone would name any of their albums their favorite, especially from s/t forward.

― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Saturday, July 26, 2014 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I was going to rank all the Labradford albums but then I wondered if I did that already in this thread and I came across what I said 4 years ago which is essentially still true.

In any case:

1. Labradford: Mi Media Naranja
2. Labradford: Fixed::Context
3. Pan American: Quiet City
4. Labradford: s/t
5. Pan American: s/t
6. Labradford: E Luxo So
7. Pan American: 360 Business / 360 Bypass
8. Aix Em Klemm: s/t
9. Pan American: Cloud Room, Glass Room
10. Anjou: s/t
11. Anjou: Epithymia
12. Pan American: White Bird Release
13. Labradford: A Stable Reference
14. Pan American: The River Made No Sound
15. Pan American: White Bird Release
16. Pan American: For Waiting, For Chasing
17. Labradford: Prazision

I like all of these records.

I rate A Stable Reference a lot higher, but that may just be because it was the first one I heard. S/t is usually my go-to. Haven't listened to Pan American in forever, should remedy that.

I was just listening to Fixed: : Context last night and swooning all over again. Then I see today that Pan American has a new album coming out in November! I hope Mark Nelson makes records forever.

Well I’m lukewarm on the new Pan American. Lots of guitar, lots of vocals—maybe if you really miss the earliest Labradford albums you will find something to enjoy here. Pan American was feeling almost like a band for a while—I guess that’s sorta what morphed into Anjou. This new album is a return to a solo/side project feel, to my ears.

The last Anjou album was beautiful

I love Labradford but have never connected with any of Mark's solo work. Dunno why

I was listening to "A Stable Reference" on headphones the other day, and noticed for the first time (as far as I remember) the stereo bouncing of quiet cricket chirps from channel to channel.

Paul, I said it up thread more than once but give Quiet City a try, if you haven’t before.

I will! I've lost track of him these past few years but I'm usually open to hearing anything from any of these guys. I think what I never really dug in Pan Am's music was the aspirations to 'dub,'which I never found very convincing

He left the dub vibe behind after the second album.

The last one I heard was either The River Made No Sound or that split CD with Frank Bretschneider

This is really nice! The whole album with the accompanying film is up on Youtube. "Het Volk" is almost ECM-y (but maybe it's the horns). Enjoying this much more than any of the stuff I'd heard previously (which, tbf, was many years ago). Thanks!

Yeah Het Volk and Lights of Little Towns are both so lovely. Glad you like it!

Seeing Pan*American this Saturday at the International Museum of Surgical Science!

Show was super cool, Mark Nelson is great at looping stuff. It did get a bit distracting that by the end most people were sitting on the floor. That, and the two dudes front and center absolutely tripping balls. One guy looked kind of like a chill hiker or tacky-sacker or something. He kept staring at his hands or pawing at or petting his pal, who was this giant bearded hulk of a man who largely remained absolutely still. Basically looked like a wiggly Han Solo and Chewbacca. Anyway, I was impressed that despite it all they still largely respected personal space, to the best of their abilities. The smaller guy even made a couple of trips to the bar for wine, which ... is maybe not the choice I would have made. But he didn't spill it, said excuse me, smiled at people, and yeah, the person next to him had to scoot a bit when he finally, awkwardly sat down, but it's not like he was rolling around.

Anyway, the show was a beaut. Nelson switched between guitar, lap steel and dulcimer, each dripping with echo and other effects. The austere setting only added to the effect.

Sorry to raise hopes of a new release/freak people out because of an early death but...

Things I was old when I realised: this lot (I assume) are named after a basketball player.

Now this is some greatness

Who’s the coolest band/artist you’ve seen at a wedding? I ask because I know I’m gonna win: Labradford.

— Marc Masters (@Marcissist) February 26, 2021

It was in Virginia in the early 90s in a church, they set up in a balcony and played ambient drone as people settled into seats, before the traditional procession music. It got REALLY loud near the end. The groom had grown up with and played in bands with them.

— Marc Masters (@Marcissist) February 26, 2021

YSI?

WOw.

New Pan*American inbound:

https://panamerican.bandcamp.com/album/the-patience-fader

New Pan*American album is out today. Liking this more than the last one so far.

As PA albums go this one is more on the guitar-based side of the fence, not so much electronic elements.