After Roger Miller pulled the plug on Mission of Burma (reportedly due to Tinitis) he started the art-noise ensemble Birdsongs of the Mezozoic. How playing with this, at times incredibly noisy, post-rock instrumental group, was better than the blistering guitar solos of Mission of Burma is beyond me. Anyway for a time in Boston this band was the shit, both live and on vinyl.
The band was one of the first I encountered to use tape loops and such a large assortment of effects. I remember overhearing a conversation the band was having before one of their shows in a pizza shop in Harvard Square, and they were raving about the complexities of the Beasties Boy’s music. This was well before nearly anyone had ever heard of them. I think that was a sign that they were on to something. Birdsongs dabbled in independent film soundtracks (only naturally) and miraculousely one of their best known film soundtracks (along with the experimental film is available here (pt.1) and here (it’s in two parts)!
The records I have are some of my most prized vinyl. These videso show the band at their most confounding and mezmering best.
“Transformation of Oz”
“Lost In the B-Zone”
“Peter Gunn”
PS Mission of Burma