The title of this meditative collaboration between guitarist Michael Grigoni and Mark Nelson trading as Pan American feels like a comment on the current state of the world order.
Michael’s other role as assistant professor of religion gives an indication of the reflective nature of the pieces on offer here. Merging Mark’s guitar, mandolin and synths with Michael’s pedal steel, lap steel and dobro, they strike out for the heart of America, as if trying to recapture an essence that has gone missing over these last desperate years.
The lonesome twang of the guitars evokes solitude and the close burr of the strings and slow, sedate pace evoke a heartland that is beginning to be overrun. The interplay between the duo and the warmth of their back porch deliberations as they watch the sun recede have an inclusivity which is hard to resist.
The sound is fairly sparse and there is even an element of abstraction to some of the pieces on New World, Lonely Ride, where you feel their disappointment at the way things are globally working out. They haven’t given up though and the twinkling of the strings over the lap steel base on “Sun Morning Sun” entrances. It leaves plenty of space as the wind plays through the wires, sand swept up against abandoned buildings. There are some really sweet melodies on the album and the one on “Omni County” circles gently and exudes an air of positivity. It is warm and vibrant, the playing subtle with no attempt to overwhelm. The natural development allows them to create shared phrases and with all tracks inhabiting the same space, tranquil yet aware, electronics unfolding somewhere in the background.The heavy reverb and pedal steel on “Dream Of Someone” has the air of a lullaby and shows ideally their ability to fuse ambient sensibilities with more rustic Americana impressions, and allow it to resonate with a meditative quality that causes us to pause and ponder. It asks us to look; not just within but at what affects us all.
New World, Lonely Ride is an album that soothes as well though and as the album progresses, it feels as if the tracks are being pared down. “Mirage / Afternoon” is stripped right back almost to the desert wind as the title might imply, while the abstraction of “South Canyon” feels filled with unanswered questions. It is the dubby use of echo on “Blue Tears Never Dry” that gives the impression that the sun is setting for the last time and that sense of solitude continues into the final track; here we are transported to Waikiki Beach, but in a time where everyone has gone. There is heartache here, those desolate yet nourishing pangs that make you realise you are human.New World, Lonely Ride touches on all our humanity and due to its spare settings, acres of space and sense of quest, it seems to give more up with every listen. This is a heartening collaboration; it will be interesting to see if it leads to any more.
-Mr Olivetti-
