BURMESE - MEN (LOAD 064)

IOWANS RELOCATING TO THE BAY AREA HAS GOOD FORM IF YOU'RE A FAN OF THINKING FELLERS UNION LOCAL 282 (I CERTAINLY AM) SO HERE'S ANOTHER: BURMESE. I KNOW ONE OF BURMESE FROM TOURING LINE UP OF OCS, THE PROTO-FOLK GROUP OF JOHN DWYER PRE-OH SEES. THE GUY PLAYED A SUITCASE FULL OF EFFECTS. IT WAS COOL.

BURMESE IS A DIFFERENT PROSPECT. GUTTURAL AND SLUDGY TRUDGES THROUGH LANES ESTABLISHED BY SWANS AND MELVINS, CASTIGATING THE EGREGIOUS EXCESSES OF MEN EVERYWHERE IN A DEPRESSING FASHION. THEY'RE NOT AFRAID TO BUM YOU OUT AND IT'S THIS SERIOUSNESS COMBINED WITH A CREEPING SONGLINESS THAT FRAMES THEIR DREAD THAT MAKES ME THINK THIS RECORD IS PRETTY GOOD ACTUALLY.

SOME OF THE CONTENT VEERS TOWARD BRAIMBOMBS TERRITORY BUT I THINK I AM GIVING BURMESE MUCH MORE CREDIT FOR SITUATIONISM AS CRITIQUE RATHER THAN THE NIHILIST APPROACH OF THEIR EURO COUNTERPARTS. YOU WOULDN'T WANT ALL ART TO COME FROM THIS KIND OF MINDSET NONETHELESS BUT THEY SEEM TO USE POWER TO SICKEN RESPONSIBLY.