| · The Mission continues.
Seminal, ahead of their time, influential, groundbreaking… all words used to describe Mission of Burma, who, in their four-year history, were much more than a musical blip on the sonic landscape. A rather prescient collective, their imprint on music is so significant that it's fitting they've reunited and have released an album – their first in 22 years.
It's like the years evaporated. The three key members – Roger Miller, Peter Prescott and Clint Conley – spent the last two decades in other projects, Volcano Suns, Consonam, No Man and Birdsongs of the Mesozoic, but now they've picked up where Burma left off, continuing to expand their musical horizons and chops.
They are joined by producer Bob Weston (replacing soundman and loop experimenter Swoop) and a few other artists (including Tanya Donnelly) adding cellos, violas and backing vocals to the mix. The 16 songs on ONOFFON, written by the founders, feature lyrics which are often reflective of history and the current scene, always with the Burma sense of humour and sense of the absurd. Instrumentally, it's a cacophonous blend of drums, percussion, bass, keyboards and electronics. There are haunting melodies, slightly off time signatures and looped instrumenal passages. With songs ranging from melodic anthems to dissonant, primal and dark pieces, it's nuanced, fractured and inventive music, with elements of free jazz, psychedelia and experimental music still in evidence.
Mission of Burma make avant-garde music you can shake your fist to with your brain fully engaged and ONOFFON is a record that will restore your faith in rock music.
5/5
KERRY CLARKE AND STEVE JOHNSON
|
Copyright ©2004 FFWD. All rights reserved.