4 by Thor & Friends
In 1984 Craig Ross and I met in Nacogdoches, Texas. We were going to college there. I was studying art and music. Craig was a psyche major. We played in a pop band together. The next year we moved to Austin and started another band called Stick People. Since then we have worked on a lot of music together. He produced the record Palo Santo for a band called Shearwater that I was in. Craig is most comfortable in his studio. I wanted to oversee the recording of this album, but then hand it off to Craig and let him do whatever he saw fit with these raw materials. The way he processes and stews sounds together is amazing and unique.
"Uber Driver" is Goat's reinterpretation of the theme from Taxi Driver.
Me, Peg and Goat (aka Piglet or Sarah Gautier or Sarah La Puerte) played marimbas and vibraphone also maybe synth also probably organ. The singers on this record are Alan and Mimi from Low, Bill Callahan, and Jolie Holland. The string players are Mollie Fischer, Travis Weller, Lindsey Verrill, Andrea Calderon, and Nino Soberin. Stuart Sullivan engineered strings. Jeff Johnston played saw. Jacob Green played oboe. Jeff Hoskins played snare drum and engineered marimba and vibraphone recording. Blair from HUG played theremin. Christopher Cundy played saxophone. Craig Ross played synths. Andrea Belfi played Trimba- a replica of an instrument built for Moondog on "Saint Belfi". Travis Weller also played The Owl - an instrument he built with piano strings, piano pegs, a huge steel plate and wood on "The Other Last Straw". Adam Harding engineered clarinet recording on “Saint Belfi” and gave “The Other Last Straw” its title. Oh yea also I played a 9' Steinway grand piano with dimes stuck (by Travis) to the strings on "The Other Last Straw". Daryl intended to help.
We are a collective of musicians. Some of our players are classically trained. Others are punk musicians with no reading skills, just spirit and will. We are trying to heal ourselves and hope you find our music healing or in some way useful.
-Thor Harris
Tracklist
| 1. | Mystery Train (feat. Low, Jolie Holland) | 5:52 |
| 2. | Dies in Paris (feat. Bill Callahan) | 6:01 |
| 3. | Uber Driver | 3:55 |
| 4. | The Other Last Straw | 2:27 |
| 5. | I Told You They Were Lying | 4:58 |
| 6. | Saint Belfi | 4:34 |
| 7. | Off Her Meds | 7:16 |
Credits
Peggy Ghorbani - marimba and violence
Thor Harris - marimba, vibraphone, prepared piano, clarinet, cornet, trombone, just brut strength
Sarah "Goat" Gautier - vibraphone, piano, organ, and mental agility
Alan Sparhawk - vocals
Mimi Parker - vocals
Bill Callahan - vocals
Jolie Holland - vocals
Mollie Fischer - cello
Andrea Calderón - violin
Nino Soberon - cello
Jeff Johnston - saw
Jacob Green - oboe
Jeff Hoskins - snare drum
Blair Bovberg - Theramin
Chris Cundy - woodwinds
Craig Ross - synths
Andrea Belfi - trimba
Recorded by Thor, Stuart Sullivan, Jeff Hoskins, Adam Harding and Craig Ross
Mastered by Tyler Watkins at Postal Recording in Indianapolis, IN
Cover photography and project management by Adam Harding
