Ascension is a band with an unconventional lineup consisting of one drummer, one bassist, and four guitarists (one of whom, by the way, is Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth). As they relentlessly strum the same chord over a simple rhythm, the guitars’ colorful overtones resonate throughout the space. The volume is ear-splitting, yet the overtones—which seem to emerge precisely because of that volume—are also beautiful. The moments when the music suddenly shifts and becomes emotional personally remind me of SONIC YOUTH or Brian Eno’s classic “Here Come the Warm Jets.” This is a masterpiece that likely had a major influence on Boa Dams during a certain period, and it stands as a landmark work bridging alternative rock and minimalist music. (Original Japanese text by Hino)