Mission of Burma

TheOwlMag on Mission of Burma

Artist: Mission of Burma Album: Signals, Calls, and Marches and Vs. Label: Matador Records Rating: Buy it >>

Truth be told—I had always heard of Mission of Burma, knew their influences and followers, possibly even lied and said I loved them in a Post-Punk conversation, but had never really engaged in the act of listening to Mission of Burma, per se. I knew it was now or never, so I jumped at the chance to review the latest re-mastered round of their first two studio albums, released in 1981 and 1982, respectively.

Released as an EP to their first full length album, Signals, Calls, and Marches (1981) forges the beginnings of Mission of Burma’s gritty, no nonsense whirlwind of PunkArt while simultaneously, bands like the Replacements, Husker Du, Gang of Four, and the Mekons (to name just a few) were all creating and invigorating the Post Punk scene and inspiring one another to revolt against the embedded catatonic “punk” aesthetic of the time. “That’s When I Reach For My Revolver” and “Academy Fight Song” remain astounding capsules of brooding attitude and fist-pounding nihilism.

Vs. (1982) traces the band’s evolution beyond dance/punk where they delve head first in various percussive inflections, jaunty guitar playing, melodic tracings, and unconventional recording innovations. “That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate” is most aligned with their British punk influences where epical riffings underpin choruses of raucous lyrical jeering, while “Dead Pool” and “Learn How” solidified the heights this band could have reached if they had lasted.

In short, Mission of Burma were a shooting star—an intense one at that—lasting only 3 years before their lead singer would dissolve the band due to severe hearing problems (although they reunited in 2002). The re-release of these recordings solidifies their legacy as forthright provocateurs whose legacy of early work is felt every time bands like the Oxford Collapse or the Walkmen juice up their amps.

- Review submitted by Carnie Fulton.

Pitchfork Best Albums on Mission of Burma

Album "OnOffOn" scored 8.8

On their first release in 22 years, Boston post-punk icons Mission of Burma shockingly display every ounce of the passion and intensity inherent in their early 80s classics. Though producer Bob Weston...