Discovering a whole universe of instruments including wooden and conch shell trumpets, stone percussion, and objects whirled around the player's head at the end of a cord, he took the plunge and learned to play (and make) them, at the same time putting his research to good use by signing up to earn a Master's degree in anthropology. While studying (which took him ten years), he did not abandon the rock scene altogether, continuing to pay the bills by singing in the garage rock combo Neckstretchers. In the late 2000s he discovered loop-pedal technology and immediately seized upon the idea of combining it with the taonga puoro to create a unique experimental fusion of ancient and modern. He performed many live demonstrations and was commissioned to write music for theater. Buoyed by the overwhelmingly positive response to his music, he decided to record an album. The result was his acclaimed 2014 debut, Whaia te Maramatanga, which was made up entirely of original compositions. In 2017 he teamed up with fellow New Zealander Fis, known for his dark, experimental electronic soundscapes. The album Clear Stones, recorded in Berlin, saw recordings of Thorne's instruments hyper-amplified, distorted, and sculpted into forbidding new shapes. ~ John D. Buchanan, Rovi
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Front Ear |
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Wooden Lung |
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Tor 201 |