Ascension, the

Clanging dissonant guitars, no wave beats, almost symphonic in nature, all instrumental. Re-release, remixed 1980-81 recordings that were re-released in ’96 as well. Take a listen and hear EXACTLY where Sonic Youth developed their “unique” guitar sound. In fact, Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo spent time working with Branca, nay, the latter plays on this recording. In fact, if someone told me that this was a remix of samples taken entirely from SY’s first two releases, the Burning Spear EP and Confusion is Sex (both of which we have in the vinyl collection, both of which are SY’s best, head and shoulders by far, imho) I would believe them. In fact, this reviewer is/was such a Sonic Youth worshipper ca. 1985-87 that I am having difficulty not putting this entire recording in reference to SY. Its pretty cool to hear the origins of one of my all time favorite bands, interesting to imagine that they ripped Branca off blind. But its not true, bands and sounds are allowed to co-evolve, especially when they share members (read the liner notes written by Ranaldo). Still though, most of this sounds like all instrumental early SY, can’t deny it. Way cool. All tracks good, amazing.

1) sounds exactly like something off of sonic youth’s first EP, or rather I guess its vice versa: chugging simple beat ends with clanging dissonance speeds up to urgent beat
2) this is so Confusion is Sex its almost hard to listen to: slower bursts, then we get into Society is a Hole, Evol type stuff, after ~5min it turns to urgent 80’s beat, even takes on a melodic epic tone after 9 min
3) tribal tom beats, builds
4) begins harmonic, not so much SY this time, builds and builds with 80’s beats, very harmonic overall
5) chiming double picking with nice drum fills, dense and georgeous, bordering on Eno or Hassell, something SY never attained, watch false endings at 7:30 high drama at this point, keeps building!