Glenn Branca (October 6, 1948 – May 13, 2018) was an American avant-garde composer, guitarist, and luthier. He was renowned for his use of volume, unconventional guitar tunings, repetition, droning, and the harmonic series, and played a key role in the development of no wave, totalism, and noise rock. In 2009, Branca was honored with a Grants to Artists Award from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts.

The Ascension is the debut studio album by American no wave musician Glenn Branca, released in November 1981 by 99 Records. The album explores resonances created through alternative tunings for multiple electric guitars. It sold 10,000 copies and was well-received by music critics.