Thor & Friends (self-tilted) CD

from Thor Harris

Thor & Friends debut self-titled album on CDl.

“Thor & Friends” were inaugurated in the autumn of 2015 by Thor after five years of touring as the percussionist of iconic avant-rock ensemble Swans. The project is intended as a vehicle for experimentation with the conceptual vocabulary of American Minimalism collaborating with a rotating cast of Austin-based musicians. That cast now includes musicians from around the country. A crafter of musical instruments and stylistic polyglot Harris is returning home with Thor & Friends and the resultant music is an elongated greeting and ode to his community, his woodworking shop and the instruments his hands shape and bring to life.

The group also builds upon similarities and contrasts with Harris' past projects and continuing collaborations; these include Swans, Ben Frost, Bill Callahan, Hospital Ships, Shearwater and John Congelton. They embody utopian optimism by rooting their art and operation in both improvisation and the involvement of neighbors and friends in their process, making use of what and who is around at any given moment to make music with.

released November 26, 2017

credits:
Sarah Gautier- Marimba, Mellotron, Organ, Vibraphone, Voices, Xylophone
Peggy Ghorbani- Marimba, Voices, Xylophone
Thor Harris- Clarinet, Drums (Bass), Gong, Marimba, Organ, Tubular Jeremy Barnes- Accordion, Floor Tom, Organ, Voices
Raven Chacon - Electronic Devices, Engineer, Flute, Voices
John Dieterich - Bass, Castanets, Prepared Guitar, Voices, Bells, Vibraphone, Voices, Xylophone
Heather Trost- Keyboards, Marimba, Violin, Voices, Wurlitzer