Lichens was the solo improv project of Chicago composer
Robert Lowe, previously known as the bassist with art rock combo
90 Day Men. A product of the Kansas City area,
Lowe signed on with
90 Day Men in 1996, just prior to their relocation from St. Louis to Chicago; when the group went on hiatus following a European tour supporting its 2004 disc Panda Park,
Lowe channeled his energies into his long-simmering solo pursuits, appearing as
Lichens at that summer's Arthur magazine-sponsored Million Tongues Festival and self-releasing a limited-edition CD-R, R. Brown. Looping wordless vocals and avant-folk fingerpicking to create otherworldly sheets of deep-listening drone,
Lowe soon captivated the attention of Kranky Records co-owner Bruce Adams, and in the autumn of 2005 the label released
Lichens' official debut,
The Psychic Nature of Being. ~ Jason Ankeny