Avant-chamber ensemble formed by polymath percussionist and all-round force of nature Thor Harris, following his tenure as a touring member of monolithic rock ensemble Swans.

The project is intended as a vehicle for experimentation, with the conceptual vocabulary of American Minimalism explored and expanded on by a rotating cast of musicians from around the globe. The resultant music is an elongated greeting and ode to Thor's community, his woodworking shop, and the instruments his hands shape and bring to life.

From the core trio of Harris (sundry percussion and wind instruments including some of his own devising), Peggy Ghorbani (marimba) and Sarah “Goat” Gautier (marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, organ, voice, mellotron, piano), the line-up of Thor & Friends expands and contracts with the flux of compositional and improvisational contexts. The range of tonal color depends on what instrumentalists are present or absent from the process at any given time. They can perform purely acoustic or shaded with hues of electronic instrumentation, as a stripped-down trio or a large ensemble.

'This music is a living and pulsing thing, perfect in its imperfections, as much as the concept of togetherness behind it. If you listen carefully, you can hear the movements and rustle of the performers. The humanity of it all' - The Quietus

Thor has been announced as the artist-in-residence for Joyful Noise Recordings in 2019. Throughout the year he will release 6 records via the label, including the third full Thor & Friends album in Autumn (following the first two on A Hawk and A Hacksaw's L.M. Dupli-cation label) as well as collaborative material with artists including Bill Callahan, Margaret Chardiet (Pharmakon), Lawrence English and many more. A limited run of 666 boxsets, handcrafted by Thor and containing coloured vinyl editions of all the releases, will then be released at the end of the year.