“The Sound, The Speed, The Light’’ is Burma’s latest, and it sounds as if the foursome never went away. Are they older? Yes. Wiser? Perhaps. Softer? If Friday night’s barely tamed chaos at the Paradise was any indication, that would be a resounding no.
Mission of Burma is not content to merely dwell on past glories. As evidenced by the first of two nights at the Paradise, the band’s approach to making artfully angular, turbulent rock music remains rooted in epic discontent. Perhaps that’s why it opened by tearing off four searing songs from the most recent albums before getting to golden oldies like “Peking Spring’’ and the encore reading of “That’s When I Reach For My Revolver.’’
Burma came out firing on all cylinders - Miller’s slashing guitar chords underpinned by Clint Conley’s fibrous bass and drummer Peter Prescott’s primal beats. The night’s opener, “Setup’’ bristled with corrosive energy.
Judging by its title, you might believe “1,2,3, Partyy!’’ was a beach-party rave-up. You’d be wrong, of course - unless said bash was held at the Jam’s house with overdriven guitars, overfed amplifiers, and a stack of Gang of Four records. Then, before you could blink, “Possession’’ and “Blunder’’ roared past. A brand new, as-yet unreleased number, “Hi Fi,’’ further affirmed Burma’s desire to blaze new trails.
The Konks opened with a steamrolling set built on the kind of pummeling, gleeful power that happens when MC5-style garage-punk meets a Bo Diddley beat.
