Mission of Burma “Signals, Calls, and Marches” 1981. Ace of Hearts Records. Their debut EP. Mission of Burma only recorded one full-length LP (Vs. in 1982) before disbanding for about 20 years, reuniting in the early 2000′s for performances and four more studio albums. Punk inspired intensity but not really punk, more of an experimental aural assault thick with dissonance, feedback and experimental tape looping. (It was the massive sound that was the band’s early undoing: guitarist Roger Miller developed a debilitating case of tinnitus.) Allmusic calls Signals, Calls, and Marches “the point where ‘indie rock’ as a separate and distinct musical subgenre well and truly began. Mission of Burma’s music had the brawn and the volume of hardcore punk, but with a lyrical intelligence and obvious musical sophistication that set them apart from the Southern California faster-and-louder brigade.”

“That’s When I Reach for My Revolver” is probably the best known track on the EP, its soaring and hooky chorus an inspiration for many to cover the song  (Moby’s version became a minor hit). “Fame and Fortune” is hypnotic, then chaotic and finally harmonic, ending with the chant “Fame and fortune is a stupid game. Fame and fortune is the game I play!” “All World Cowboy Romance” is a sprawling and monumental instrumental that should be played very very loud.