Eric K
The combination of electronics with the usual soft percussion and ambient music in Thor's new epoch is simply divine. And to hear Jarboe intone on a few tracks brings me to my happy place.
Favorite track: Falling (feat. Jarboe, Stine Janvin Motland, Soriah).
This record was made over several years and in many locations. Only by the grace of the brilliant Jeremy Barnes was it all sewn together into this fantastic tapestry of sound you are lucky to now behold. Also I must give much credit in organizing and making it happen to Adam Harding and everyone at Joyful Noise. Thankfully Peggy Ghorbani and Sarah "Goat" Gautier are the core members of Thor & Friends. They play on all of these tracks. They are why I go on.
As Above So Below - The main voice, backing voice and lyrics are Jennifer Wasner from Wye Oak, Flock of Dimes and Bon Iver. We are old friends, and I am constantly in awe of her musical abilities. The Tuvan throat singing is Soriah. Heather Trost from A Hawk and a Hacksaw played violin. Jeremy Barnes played organ and other things. John Dieterich from Deerhoof played organ. Thierry Amar from Godspeed You! Black Emperor played upright bass. Tim Herzog also from Godspeed played cymbals and drums. Adam Harding played some weird guitar controlled mellotron thing.
Lonely Dee - Adam Torres on guitar. Daily Tolliver on Wurlitzer. Jeremy Barnes on organ and electronic processing of everything so that I no longer hated this track at all. It is the first Thor & Friends piece ever.
Tucson - Michael Gira sings. I tried to pay him, but he graciously refused. He remains a huge inspiration to me as well as a dear friend of 20 years and counting. Crystal Fulbright is the other singer. She is amazing. She lives in Austin. Travis Weller plays violin. Elizabeth Warren plays viola. Jacob Green plays oboe. Adam Harding played his weird guitar controlled mellotron thing.
Jarboe Walks In the River - Jarboe on voice. John Dieterich played organ. Jeremy Barnes did everything else as far as I know.
Falling - Jacob Green on oboe. Travis Weller on violin. Elizabeth Warren on viola. Stine Janvin Motland is the first voice you hear. She sings all of the high parts. She is an amazing singer from Norway who now lives in Berlin. Seek her work. Jarboe from Swans played organ, piano and sang beautifully. John Dieterich played organ. Ami Dang played sitar. The Tuvan throat singing is once again the amazing Soriah.
Stine and Her Animals - Stine Janvin Motland voice including all of the sounds that you think might be her voice. Craig Ross recorded her voice. Tiffany DeFoe played saxaphone. John Congleton played guitar, synths and sampled strings.
It is probable that Jordan Geiger, Blair from HUG and Brockett Hamilton played on this record too. It’s all a blur.
- Thor Harris
credits
released September 4, 2020
Sarah "Goat" Gautier - vibraphone, organ & piano
Thor Harris - marimba, vibraphone, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, gongs, bass drum, snare drum, maybe some other stuff
Peggy Ghorbani - marimba
Jeremy Barnes - organ, drums, arrangements, mixing, studio wizardry
Heather Trost - violin
John Dieterich - organ
Jarboe - vocals, organ, piano
Michael Gira - vocals
Jenn Wasner - vocals
Soriah - throat singing
Stine Janvin Motland - vocals
Crystal Fulbright - vocals
John Congleton guitar, synth
Adam Harding - Mellotron, guitar
Thierry Amar - upright bass
Timothy Herzog - cymbals, drums
Adam Torres - guitar
Jeff Hoskins- Snare Drum
Dailey Toliver - Wurlitzer
Travis Weller - violin
Elizabeth Warren - viola
Jacob Green - oboe
Ami Dang - sitar
Tiffany DeFoe - saxophone
Daryl - did not do shit, not one goddam thing
Recorded by Jeff Hoskins, Craig Ross, Stuart Sullivan, Jeremy Barnes, Jennifer Wasner, Thor Harris, John Congleton, Adam Harding, Thierry Amar, Tim Herzog, and Jarboe
Mixed by Jeremy Barnes at Sonido Del Norte in Albuquerque, NM
Mastered by Tyler Watkins at Postal Recording in Indianapolis, IN
Cover photography and project management by Adam Harding
"Electronic chamber music" from this lauded ensemble, with the musicians "sampling" the notation for a stunning, innovative sound. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 8, 2017
Beautiful, elegantly wrought instrumentals with the grace and delicacy of slowcore mark the latest from James Schroeder. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 28, 2020
