Our occasional series “Secret History” features profiles of classic D.C. albums as a way of looking back at the District’s contributions to music over time. Here we revisit Burning Airlines’ stunning debut, Mission: Control! (DeSoto, 1999).

D.C. indie rock legend J. Robbins spent time in seminal ’80s District punk outfit Government Issue, and headed ’90s post-punk giant Jawbox before forming Burning Airlines with fellow Jawboxer Bill Barbot (bass, vocals, and various instrumental duties) and ex-Government Issue compatriot Peter Moffett (drums plus) at the end of the Clinton era.

Lifting their moniker from the 1974 Brian Eno track “Burning Airlines Give You So Much More,” the new band followed in Jawbox’s footsteps, cranking out brutally melodic compositions delivered with an abundance of raw power, precision and rhythmic authority, but adding a bit more polish and shine to the mix. The sound was epic, unnervingly catchy and big enough to take your block off at thirty paces.

“It was kind of interesting that J. came full circle on the idea of the trio,” Barbot, who played guitar in Jawbox from 1992’s Novelty onwards, tells DCist. “Because Jawbox started out as a trio. But he felt that something was lacking in what he would like to do with songwriting and what he could pull of live and what he could pull off on records. That’s how I ended up in Jawbox: as another guitar player, so that J. could explore some more complicated ideas with guitars.