Album Notes

From AMG:
"Branca's first symphony is a massive behemoth of guitars, noise and alternate tunings with players that include the Theoretical Girls' Wharton Tiers and Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo. The first movement begins with a distant groan, like some Aboriginal folk music. By the time the thundering drums begin, the sound has become as grand and immovable is the monolith from 2001. Branca's brilliance lies in his merger of rock and roll with 20th century classical, as well as his ability to create rumbling, careening crescendos into infinity. This 1981 recording shows the roots of everything from Sonic Youth to Godspeed You Black Emperor! and Mogwai, Merzbow and the Boredoms to Black Dice and Lightning Bolt - even post rock groups like Tortoise and Sigur Ros - just listen to the ambient, repetitive pulsing of the second movement. Always defiant, always challenging, Branca's Symphony No. 1 is one of the most raucous and inspiring compositions of the late 20th century." - Charles Spano

"Imagine a lion roaring and put your head in its mouth. Then you might get close to the impact of Branca's music. All the flesh of pop music is hacked away, but the terrifying bones still remain." New Musical Express, UK, January 14, 1984

"Branca and 16 guest musicians beat the hell out of Symphony No. 1 in a highly industrial manner." Music Week, UK, December 17, 1983

"He makes explosive challenging music, strong stuff. He's playing with fire and he knows it." Steve Albini, Matter, February 1984