This music was labeled by the press as "rock minimalism" and in some cases "maximalism".
Branca would eventually form a band to tour and record this music. Sometimes thought of as "The Ascension Band" the group included: Lee Ranaldo, Ned Sublette, David Rosenbloom and Branca on guitars, Jeffery Glenn on bass and Stephen Wischerth on drums (later Thurston Moore would join on guitar). It was with this music that Branca introduced his newest octave and unison tunings in which the guitars were divided into soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass. By the start of 1980 Branca was desperate to release a recording of his new extended instrumental work. Singles were no longer possible with pieces running from 8 to 12 minutes.
He approached Ed Bahlman who had a small record store in the Village and suggested that he consider starting a record company with Branca's music as the first record. Drawing from Branca's experience with producing, manufacturing and distributing records Balhman started 99 Records. The EP LESSON NO. 1 came out soon after, with the album THE ASCENSION following a year later.
MySpace.com - Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca: The official web site
Branca would eventually form a band to tour and record this music. Sometimes thought of as "The Ascension Band" the group included: Lee Ranaldo, Ned Sublette, David Rosenbloom and Branca on guitars, Jeffery Glenn on bass and Stephen Wischerth on drums (later Thurston Moore would join on guitar). It was with this music that Branca introduced his newest octave and unison tunings in which the guitars were divided into soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass. By the start of 1980 Branca was desperate to release a recording of his new extended instrumental work. Singles were no longer possible with pieces running from 8 to 12 minutes.
He approached Ed Bahlman who had a small record store in the Village and suggested that he consider starting a record company with Branca's music as the first record. Drawing from Branca's experience with producing, manufacturing and distributing records Balhman started 99 Records. The EP LESSON NO. 1 came out soon after, with the album THE ASCENSION following a year later.
MySpace.com - Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca: The official web site
The Ascencion [1980]
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