While he was out of town touring with the Static, Max's Kansas City invited Theoretical Girls to perform for a 1979 Easter festival.

[6] Branca convinced the venue to book him for a solo gig, and he assembled a group that included Barbara Ess and Christine Hahn.

Thurston Moore, who performs on "Bad Smells", auditioned at the recommendation of his girlfriend Kim Gordon but was rejected.

[10] Rhys Chatham of the Gynecologists was initially upset after hearing the new band, feeling that it was reusing his ideas.

[10][12] The tour began in December 1980 and included Ranaldo, Ned Sublette, David Rosenbloom, Jeffrey Glenn, and Stephan Wischerth.

[13] Branca uses dense overtones and shifting melodies created from repeated electric guitar parts.

[11] It introduces one-note parts on the organ and bass that gives the sense of harmonic progression,[15] and drums enter the arrangement three minutes into the track.

[15] "Bad Smells" was originally commissioned by Twyla Tharp for a dance piece but was instead included on a 1982 spoken word record by John Giorno.

1's original release, John Rockwell wrote for The New York Times that "the effects and textures Mr. Branca achieves are really remarkable, and the sound…is unlike anything in music.

"[2] AllMusic called the EP "a powerful, wrenching, transcendent piece of rock guitar classicism".

[14] Slant Magazine said that the EP is "primarily interesting as a historical curiosity that provides deeper insight into the genesis of Branca's music".

[19] Pitchfork Media commented that "the sound remains close enough to grab hold of you and lift you into Branca's intense world.