This Ascension
Encyclopedia
This Ascension is a gothic
/ethereal
band from Southern California
that formed in 1988. They have released four albums on their own label Tess Records from 1989 to 1999 to major acclaim and growing popularity.
This Ascension toured the United States three times and the west coast prolifically, sharing the stage with bands including Clan of Xymox
, The Jesus and Mary Chain
, Chris Isaak
, The Wolfgang Press
and Pixies.
After Tess Records collapsed, the band signed to Projekt Records
in 2001. Their back catalogue was re-released and the band split soon afterwards. The group re-formed with bassist Cindy Coulter for a few shows in 2004 and are currently making plans to write and record new material in 2011.
Vocalist Dru has gone on to sing for the neo-classical project Mirabilis
as well as ethereal/electronic act Falling You
. Former Bassist Charlie re-joined his former band Nerf Herder
and guitarist Kevin Serra runs the music review site Kevchino
. Serra is now recording music for a singles project with guest vocalists under the name Cloud Seeding. The first single "Ink Jar/Unquestioning" features Boston's Marissa Nadler
.
Former (and now current) bassist Cindy Coulter went on to become the touring bassist for Faith & the Muse from 1999 - 2007. This Ascension's cover of the song "Carol Of The Bells" was featured on ABC TV show Brothers and Sisters episode "Cold Turkey" which aired on December 12, 2010.
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
/ethereal
Ethereal Wave
Ethereal Wave, also called ethereal darkwave in Europe and ethereal goth or simply ethereal in the US, is a term that describes a subgenre of Dark Wave music...
band from Southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
that formed in 1988. They have released four albums on their own label Tess Records from 1989 to 1999 to major acclaim and growing popularity.
This Ascension toured the United States three times and the west coast prolifically, sharing the stage with bands including Clan of Xymox
Clan of Xymox
The band Clan of Xymox, also known as Xymox, formed in the Netherlands in 1981. Clan Of Xymox featured a trio of songwriters - Pieter Nooten, Ronny Moorings and Anke [also Anka] Wolbert - and gained success in the 1980s, releasing their first two albums on a prestigious independent UK label, a...
, The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...
, Chris Isaak
Chris Isaak
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Isaak is an American rock musician and occasional actor.-Early life:Isaak was born in Stockton, California, the son of Dorothy , a potato chip factory worker, and Joe Isaak, a forklift driver. Isaak's mother is Italian American, originating from Genoa...
, The Wolfgang Press
The Wolfgang Press
The Wolfgang Press was an English post-punk band, active from 1983 until 1995, recording for the 4AD label. The core of the band was Michael Allen , Mark Cox , and Andrew Gray , with many guest musicians....
and Pixies.
After Tess Records collapsed, the band signed to Projekt Records
Projekt Records
This is the article for the record label. You might be looking for Pro-jekt, ProjeKct, Project Pitchfork, or Projekt RevolutionProjekt is a Brooklyn, New York-based independent record label specializing in gothic rock, ambient, ethereal, darkwave, shoegaze, dream-pop, and dark cabaret created by...
in 2001. Their back catalogue was re-released and the band split soon afterwards. The group re-formed with bassist Cindy Coulter for a few shows in 2004 and are currently making plans to write and record new material in 2011.
Vocalist Dru has gone on to sing for the neo-classical project Mirabilis
Mirabilis (band)
Mirabilis is a neoclassical/ethereal musical project formed in 2001 by Dru Allen of This Ascension and Summer Bowman of the Machine in the Garden. Mirabilis uses vocals as the primary instrumentation, crafting original musical compositions and interpreting traditional classical vocal pieces from a...
as well as ethereal/electronic act Falling You
Falling You
Falling You is an ethereal/electronic project based in San Francisco, California. Falling You's instrumental work tends toward dark ambient soundscapes which borders on electronica. Other tracks utilize ethereal female vocals. John Michael Zorko is the primary composer for Falling You...
. Former Bassist Charlie re-joined his former band Nerf Herder
Nerf Herder
Nerf Herder is a punk rock band from Santa Barbara formed in 1994 by Parry Gripp , Charlie Dennis and Steve Sherlock . They describe themselves as a "geek rock" band, and are known for simplistic modern punk-style songs with frequently humorous, juvenile and pop-culture-referencing lyrics...
and guitarist Kevin Serra runs the music review site Kevchino
Kevchino
Kevchino is an indie music critic website founded by Kevin Serra, founded in Santa Barbara, California, but now based in Brooklyn, New York. The website contains reviews of several indie music artists by volunteer reviewers....
. Serra is now recording music for a singles project with guest vocalists under the name Cloud Seeding. The first single "Ink Jar/Unquestioning" features Boston's Marissa Nadler
Marissa Nadler
Marissa Nadler is an American dream-folk singer-songwriter and fine artist based in Boston.-Early life:Marissa Nadler was exposed to art at a young age through her mother Pamela, an abstract painter, and her older brother Stuart, a guitarist and writer...
.
Former (and now current) bassist Cindy Coulter went on to become the touring bassist for Faith & the Muse from 1999 - 2007. This Ascension's cover of the song "Carol Of The Bells" was featured on ABC TV show Brothers and Sisters episode "Cold Turkey" which aired on December 12, 2010.
Albums
- Tears in Rain (CD) - Tess Records - 1989
- Light and ShadeLight and Shade (This Ascension)Light and Shade is an album by This Ascension released in 1991. It is the band's second album. The cover features "La Jeune Martyre" by French painter Paul Hippolyte Delaroche.-Track listing:# "Ave Maris Stella" – 3:56# "Return" – 4:48...
(CD) - Tess Records - 1991 - Walk Softly, A Dream Lies HereWalk Softly, A Dream Lies HereWalk Softly, A Dream Lies Here is an album by This Ascension released in 1994. It is the band's third album.-Track listing:# "Adonis" – 3:32# "Exhibition" – 4:53# "Swandive" – 6:18# "Light and Shade" – 4:50# "Angel Light" – 3:46...
(CD) - Tess Records - 1994 - SeverSever (album)Sever is an album by This Ascension released August 24, 1999. It is the band's fourth album.-Track listing:# "Fuego Cayendo" – 3:17# "Mysterium" – 5:11# "Forever Shaken" – 5:16# "Serpent's Serenade" – 3:53# "Dorado" – 2:07# "Fatal Dawn" – 5:44...
(CD) - Tess Records - 1999