Vs.

On the surface, Mission of Burma's debut effort "Vs." seems quite simple. It's largely formatted in 3 - 4 minute, one guitar track punk compositions that, when given a passing listen, may seem straightforward, even maybe rudimentary. However, it's when you listen closer that the record's idiosyncrasies become apparent.

Of these idiosyncrasies, perhaps the record's sloppiness is it's most apparent. The drums, in my eyes, are the most glaring example of this, they clatter and romp under the songs like splatters of rain, all coming down in a massive volley. On "Train" it's a key element, but all throughout the tracklist the clamor of the cymbals and thumping of the toms and snare underpin the songs here, which in general feel, at many points, like they could fall apart with the slightest tap. However, I don't mean this as an insult to the playing of Peter Prescott (as well any of the other members here), not at all. Nor do I take this sloppiness as a detriment to the record. See, the ramshackle approach to playing taken here gives these songs a chaotic, frenetic life to them, a vitality that makes them so enrapturing to listen to. In many ways, it feels like a live performance and has a similar sense of color to it. It makes these little 3 - 4 minute punk bangers much more textured and nuanced. The bass, guitar and vocals add a similar effect here, with the bass being bouncy, the guitar lines being spiky and energetic, and the vocals being frenzied and measured in the best ways possible here. That being said, all these elements can be tight and focused when they want to. Though, in a way the chaos of the record showcases a skill by having everything going at full speed yet never falling out of sync with each other and turning into a complete mess and keeping it just a partial mess, enough to keep it fun. Hell, the chaos of the record is even reflected in the songs' structuring, with many tracks breaking from a traditional verse-chorus-verse formula in favor of more esoteric structuring. This helps a fair bit in keeping the songs, which many times feature the same textures and soundscapes, from feeling repetitive by placing them in different contexts.

As well, it's worth noting how the songs here are a sort of bridge between post-punk, post-hardcore, and even indie. For example, 'Trem Two" drifts and lilts along in a way that feels almost more like something that would come 5 or 10 years later. As well, songs like "That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate" and "The Ballad of Johnny Burma" remind me almost of the punkier, more straightforward thrashers that show up on Fugazi records 10 years down the line. The songcraft itself feels, in many ways, ahead of it's time for 1982. Though, perhaps the most vital idiosyncrasy here is the contributions of Martin Swope, who acts as the group's "tape operator". You can hear his work in the various moments of audio fuckery throughout the record. It appears just after the initial introductory burst of energy on opener "Secrets" and appears often in the vocals of the record, with lines being repeated and manipulated, strings of vocal interplay further stirring the pot of chaos of the record. Swope's contribution to the record gives these songs a slight sprinkling of avant-garde, tape music edge to them, as if you accidentally spilled just a little dusting of This Heat into the mix, just enough to glean at certain points throughout the record. Overall, "Vs." is simultaneously quaint and dense. It's a record that feels offers both the primal rawness of a classic hardcore record, yet also the experimentation of a genre like post-punk or post-hardcore, which makes for an enriching combination. It's a show of controlled chaos, one in which the fight between control and chaos harmonize to make the record all it is. Would recommend.

Track Ratings:

1. Secrets: 4.8/5
2. Train: 4.7/5
3. Trem Two: 4.7/5
4. New Nails: 4.8/5
5. Dead Pool: 4.7/5
6. Learn How: 4.7/5
7. Mica: 4.7/5
8. Weatherbox: 4.7/5
9. The Ballad of Johnny Burma: 4.6/5
10. Einstein's Day: 4.8/5
11. Fun World: 4.7/5
12. That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate: 4.7/5

Favorite Tracks: Secrets, Train, Trem Two, New Nails, Dead Pool, Learn How, Mica, Weatherbox, Einstein's Day, Fun World, That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate

Least Favorite: The Ballad of Johnny Burma