A Short History of Mission of Burma

The thing about hardcore punk was that it showed that people could be affected by sheer raw noise. And sometimes the sheer noise had a message. Sometimes. What Mission Of Burma did was to take the idea of sheer noise and coral it. They used the noise at key moments, thus heightening the impact.

The trio worked with their live sound engineer to evolve an innovative working relationship and an innovative sound. They played music which shifted the emphasis away from more traditional rock and towards sound experimentation. Experimentation with style, texture and the potential of amplified sound dynamics. Many bands have gained from Mission Of Burma's new steps along the road to a new alternative music, including the likes of Husker Du, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, My Bloody Valentine, Fugazi and Yo La Tengo.

In 1977, Clint Conley and Roger Miller moved to Boston. They joined up with a band called Moving Parts, who could be called art-rock, if a label is needed. However, the two of them quickly realized that the new punk music doing the rounds was way more exciting. A developing tinnitus problem meant that Roger Miller had been warned off playing loud music. He couldn't resist it's possibilities though, or the sheer adrenaline. So the two friends formed Mission Of Burma. The band only lasted for four years. During this brief time they failed to get out of the seedy toilet circuit they played and only recorded one full-length album and one short EP. Both recordings are crucial.

After a short time Mission Of Burma had gained a growing reputation for great live shows. The guitar of Miller would be cranked right up high. He would create sounds which relied less on notes and chords and more on the actual shape of the room where the band was playing. He didn't really play the usual fast and thrashy chords like many of the other hardcore bands. He took his foot off the gas and then unleashed sonic assaults when least expected. The other two members filled out the song, with Peter Prescott on drums. They provided the foundations and structure which Miller's guitar would bounce off. Each gig was different. Each time, each song was different. Added to this mix was Martin Swope, Mission Of Burma's live sound engineer. As the band played he recorded sections and then, at random moments, played the sections back so that both band and audience could hear them.

Their debut single was called 'Academy Fight Song'. It was played by REM in their live set for a number of years. The record contained 'That's When I Reach For My Revolver' which has been covered by Moby (when he went heavy-metal) and Graham Coxon (when he didn't go heavy-metal). The song is full of tension throughout each verse. Miller's guitar threatens to get away from him and then suddenly explodes into the chorus. The album was called 'Vs'. It was recorded in a large studio, which helped in the creation of harmonics and textures. It has become a template for the possibilities of noise in music. There are violent and discordant thrash sections, followed by strange off-kilter grooves and topped off with great hook-ridden choruses. The lyrics are mature, emotional, philosophical and literate. Yet they are delivered in a manic style at times. It all adds up to equal parts physical and cerebral. Pity they split up so soon.