Album Notes

10,000 Thunderstorms – 2001
the spirit of evolution

A mesmerizing sojourn into the cosmos. A 10 year project, this record is a wild ride from the initial flashpoint of creation to the present. A musical telling of the great story of the universe. Featuring an array of original evolutionary acoustic instruments including huaca, conundrums, kim kims and nyckelharpa. 15 compositions musically linked into one whole with moving didjeridu bass lines, and unique time, rhythm & counterpoint reflecting the complexity of the great surround. A sound signature of fired clay, alloy, wood and agave towards a whiff of the spirit of evolution. Like nothing else. 74 minutes

Includes a 16 page four color booklet - each piece investigates a concept or provocative human/nature idea articulated by a contemporary scientist, writer, activist, or naturalist.

Reviews
It’s a gateway into a secret, that we humans are capable of profound amazement and the deepest gratitude for existence.
- Brian Swimme, author of The Universe Story

The most eclectic mix of original sounds that hang together into a complete vision and storyline I have ever laid ears on. -Theron Shaw, Seattle musician

This record is devoted to our awakeing - on it you will hear the sound of life echoing its own history of conciousmess upon itself, of humans expressing their deepest wisdom and feelings.
- Wes Nisker, author of Buddha’s Nature and editor of Inquiring Mind

Alan Towers 10,000 Thunderstorms brings together a stunning array of unusual musical instruments, both traditional and new, in the service of
an expansive musical, historical and social vision. The special qualities of each individual instrument come across beautifully and lucidly, even as each finds its place within the context of the compositional whole.
- Bart Hopkin, Editor, Experimental Musical Instruments (EMI)


Alan Tower Bio
For many years I was entranced with writing for solo acoustic guitar with Leo Kottke, Alex deGrassi and Michael Hedges as inspiration or mentors. In the early 90’s, experimenting with a new barring technique, I injured my hand so severely I was not able to play for many years, and now only for short periods. However, this was a gift, as I became drawn to a series of new earth based instruments and began working with the inventors to expand their tonality and resonance in the world. The first was the huaca, a triple chambered clay vessel flute, then the didjeridu and most recently the Hang and Shruti Box. These instruments are made from clay, wood, alloy or agave and provide a natural connection to my work as an environmental activist. The instruments are also based on, or directly from, non-western cultures and use the natural scale vs. equal temperament. The intersection of music, activism and world cultural became complete without a previous plan to integrate these together. In bringing the western compositional approach used in writing for solo guitar to these new instruments, I discovered that there was a wide world open to me in pushing the instruments beyond their current boundaries and became fascinated by experiencing an music based on this natural scale heard in Indian music.

The work of Brian Swimme and Thomas Berry have particularly inspired my vision of music as a voice and catalyst for a more humane sustainable culture. My compositions and unusual sounds were spotlighted in the Ellipsis Arts CD/book Orbitones, Spooharps and Bellowphones, in a series of Tsunami Rangers video’s on sea kayaking, in the 2004 Disney.Skywalker movie Peter Pan, and in soundtracks for meditation and yoga. I perform solo, in duo, with Ancient Future and SpiritMoves, and in the Cave Concert series overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.