N. Lannon - Chemical Friends

Known mostly as guitarist/vocalist in the San Francisco band Film School, musician Nyles Lannon is also active on many other musical fronts. With the recent release of his electronic record n.ln Astronomy for Children (BBC Album of the Week Jan 18th) he completed an extensive European tour and is set to release another n.ln record with Bjork collaborator Thomas Knak. And now we find Lannon changing gears once again, moving this time to the realm of acoustic/electronic ambient pop with the release of n.Lannon Chemical Friends (Badman). With heart-felt lyricism as well as solid musicianship, n.Lannon proves he is as comfortable with intricate finger picking and singing as he is programming beats and synthesizers. Hushed vocals float over dreamy washes of guitar that turn gritty and vengeful. Subdued acoustic strumming flows with glitchy beats and ghostly sound fragments. Bringing together early rock influences like Pink Floyd and Simon & Garfunkel with more recent abstract electronic influences such as Fuxa and Fennesz, n.Lannon's songs weave strong melodies with distant ambience and sparkling electronic production. The results are 11 beautifully crafted songs that make Chemical Friends a remarkable solo debut. Fans of Nick Drake, Simon & Garfunkel, and Elliott Smith will find themselves humming Chemical these infectious melodies shoulder to shoulder with fans of Postal Service and Pinback. Chemical Friends is destined to make many new friends in 2004.

1) The Catch
2) Turn Time Around
3) Hollow Heart
4) My Last Breath
5) Fortune Cookie
6) Beached
7) Demons
8) Spy
9) The Nature of Things
10) Cruel
11) I Freak You Out