PAN Records - A New Experimental Vision

by Matt Nawara

I have risen from the dead to share with you, dear readers, my ongoing infatuation with PAN Records. In the world of “experimental” music (what does that even mean?), the pretentious conviction of some deep intellectual superiority often justifies hostility toward anything “simple” or “mainstream” (meaning - anything with a vaguely discernible rhythm). Unfortunately, this stubborn mindset alienates many potential listeners, strangely espousing the music’s challenging nature without mentioning its rewards. PAN, operated by Bill Kouligas (pictured above), is a much needed voice in this dismal state of the experimental music scene. Granted, the label’s release catalogue is rife with hyper-minimalist sound collage and post-dystopian drone-fests.But, PAN also releases records full of grooves, actual melodies, and honest-to-God tunes. Most importantly, the eclecticism of PAN’s output does not feel contrived or pandering to a middle-ground audience (think westernized Asian cuisine). The label has consistently adhered to the agenda it set from the first record - releasing forward-thinking, confidently new electronic music. This wide variety of styles and nuances is, however, interconnected with a harmonic, logical consistency. Aside from the beautiful, aesthetically consistent artwork designed by Kouligas himself, PAN’s releases fit together across disparate genres through a shared vision for a future of smart and stylish sounds. Unlike some overly dogmatic experimental labels, like Erstwhile or Another Timbre (which I also recommend, but only for the patient), PAN’s roster strikes a new balance where cutting-edge sound art coexists with a weekly RinseFM show and some allegedly killer label parties.You’re sold? Good, here’s a selection of some of my recommended listening off PAN Records (click the pictures for Soundcloud links!):   1. James Hoff - Blaster. Conceptual glitch pieces made through feeding digital audio to a computer virus named… Blaster. And it’s got mad funk.

2. Lee Gamble - Diversions. Sound collages from golden era jungle tracks. Maybe the perfect embodiment of the PAN ethos.

3. Helm - Impossible Symmetry. Drone like no-one else has droned before.

4. Jar Moff - Commercial Mouth. Hip-hop musique concrete.

5. Eli Keszler - Cold Pin. Sound sculpture. Meaning massive string beams and percussion installments triggered by automated machines, played in an improvisational manner of course.

6. The rest of the PAN catalogue.

Check out PAN's website to purchase some releases and check out some more tracks!