Editorial Reviews
Music Review:
Music Review
Digital Masterpiece Series Disc Three
Album Review: 2 Concertos for Cello & Orchestra
Futura: Electronica Downtempo, Vol. 1 [Import]
Gold [Original recording remastered]
Frampton Comes Alive! [Live] [Original recording remastered]
Fallen Angels-Sound Paint [Import]
Symphonies 2, 3, 4, 5 - G.Ustvolskaya (O.Malov, D.Liss - St.Petersburg Soloists, UPO)
Amazon.com
Lots can happen in 22 years. Babies grow up, graduate college, start families. The onset of maturity is typically harder on rock bands. In 1972, the Stones released Exile on Main Street; by 1994, they were slumming in Voodoo Lounge. So it comes as a terrific surprise that Boston punk experimentalists Mission of Burma, who split shortly after 1982's Vs., sound as cutting edge as ever on this reunion disc. Opener "The Setup" features a midsection that sounds more like a jar of buzzing bees than any conventional solo, thanks to tape manipulator Bob Weston (borrowed from Shellac) putting guitarist Roger Miller through a barrage of effects. On a quieter note, the seductive "Falling" features backing vocals by Tonya Donnelly, while somber strings underscore "Prepared." Through it all, Burma still boast unerring melodic sensibilities; "The Enthusiast" and "Wounded World" are rife with sharp hooks. ONoffON was a long time coming, but well worth the wait. --Kurt B. Reighley
Album Description
The first new recordings in 22 years from avant-rock titans Mission Of Burma. A work of staggering complexity, brimming with all the raw power of their 80's releases, while revealing tones, textures, and lyrical themes unimaginable the first time around. One of the most forward-thinking American bands, Burma have been covered by REM, Moby, Blur, and others, and helped shape the sounds of hardcore, indie rock, and emo. They're part of the Velvet Underground, MC5, Television, and Joy Division pantheon. Available in CD, hybrid SACD, and true all-analog 180-gram double vinyl.