Pan American is an American experimental electronic music

Electronic music

Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...

 ensemble. It is the alter ego of Mark Nelson, vocalist and guitarist for the band Labradford

Labradford

Labradford is a U.S. post-rock musical group from Richmond, Virginia, founded in 1991. They have released six full albums from 1993 to 2001. Though not officially disbanded, its members have since been active with separate projects.-Biography:...

, who first began recording under the name in 1997.

The debut release for Pan American was a self-titled LP on Kranky

Kranky Records

Kranky is an independent record label, located in Chicago, Illinois. It was started in 1993 by Bruce Adams and Joel Leoschke.The bands it houses are noted for combining experimental and often electronic influences with elements of more traditional rock structures, and many of the artists on Kranky...

 in 1998. The 2000 LP 360 Business/360 Bypass included appearances from Rob Mazurek

Rob Mazurek

Rob Mazurek is an American composer, jazz musician, and visual artist originally from Chicago, Illinois. Mazurek now resides in São Paulo Brazil.-Biography:...

 and Alan Sparhawk

Alan Sparhawk

Alan Sparhawk is the guitarist and vocalist for American band Low.-Biography:George Alan Sparhawk was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in Utah. He met Mimi Parker when he was 9, after his family moved to Minnesota. Sparhawk began writing his own compositions around the age of 13...

 and Mimi Parker of Low

Low (band)

Low is an American indie rock group from Duluth, Minnesota, formed in 1993. As of 2010, the group is composed of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker , both founding members, and Steve Garrington ....

. Two further full-lengths on Kranky followed in 2002 and 2004.

Discography

• Pan American (Kranky
  Kranky Records
  Kranky is an independent record label, located in Chicago, Illinois. It was started in 1993 by Bruce Adams and Joel Leoschke.The bands it houses are noted for combining experimental and often electronic influences with elements of more traditional rock structures, and many of the artists on Kranky...
  
  , 1998)
• 360 Business/360 Bypass (Kranky, 2000)
• Personal Settings:Preset 1 (Quatermass Records, 2001)
• East Coast Bugs EP (Quatermass Records, 2001)
• Preset 1/3 (Quatermass, 2002)
• The River Made No Sound (Kranky, 2002)
• Quiet City (Kranky, 2004)
• For Waiting, For Chasing (Mosz Records, 2006)
• White Bird Release (Kranky, 2009)