MIEN - Miien - Review

MIEN - Miien

by Steve Kinrade

published: 8 / 6 / 2025

Label: Fuzz Club Records
Format: CD

If you require an album for the jaded musical palate, then look no further than MIEN’s second eponymous titled album. The crossing point between progressive, psychedelic and krautrock, its an absolute

Review

If you require an album for the jaded musical palate, then look no further than MIEN’s second eponymous titled album. The crossing point between progressive, psychedelic and krautrock, its an absolute belter. In a musical landscape often confined by formulaic takes on psychedelia, MIEN takes a step forward as a force of sonic experimentation. Comprised of Rishi Dhir (Elephant Stone), Alex Maas (The Black Angels), John Mark Lapham (The Earlies), and Robb Kidd (Golden Dawn Arkestra), the band returns with their long-awaited second album, 'MIIEN'. Released via Fuzz Club, this record deepens the group's commitment to boundary-pushing collaboration while refining their genredefying alchemy. Building on the lush, immersive textures of their 2018 debut, MIIEN represents an evolution — not just sonically, but spiritually. It’s the sound of four artists united in exploration, blending the vintage pulse of ’60s psychedelia with the mechanised heartbeat of Krautrock, all filtered through a thoroughly modern, experimental lens. Tracks develop like undertaken journeys, often beginning as skeletal loops or grooves and expanding into richly layered compositions through the band’s remote yet synergistic creative process. The origins of MIEN are as compelling as their sound. The seeds were planted in 2004 when Dhir and Maas first connected at SXSW, sparking a transcontinental friendship and creative rapport. Lapham’s entrance brought electronic and production prowess, and Kidd’s addition in 2018 solidified the lineup. Despite the geographical distance between them, MIEN thrives on shared intuition and mutual trust, a dynamic that fuels the genre-melding ambition of 'MIIEN'. Opening with 'Evil People,' the band wastes no time launching into their groove. Pulsing with motorik rhythms, swirling organs, and hypnotic vocals, it sets the tone for an album unafraid to embrace both the retro and the future. The second offering 'Counterbalance'showcases Dhir’s sitar artistry and Maas’s spectral vocals, balancing programmed precision with organic emotion. From there, the record unfurls with cinematic grandeur — highlights like 'Silent Golden' and 'Mirror' layer synths, bass lines, and otherworldly atmospheres into cohesive yet unpredictable soundscapes. The band’s chemistry is evident in the seamless interplay between Maas’s evocative voice, Kidd’s tight percussion, Lapham’s textural production, and Dhir’s melodic finesse. Even as songs venture into dark, experimental territory — like the paranoid pulses of 'Knocking On Your Door' or the submerged dream-state of 'Slipping Away' — there’s always a tether to human emotion and melody. The album closes with 'Morning Echo,, a track that serves as both a come-down and a spiritual rebirth, channeling sunrise energy through resonant synths and hopeful crescendos. MIEN has achieved something quite rare: a second act that doesn’t just repeat a winning formula, but reimagines it. Drawing on their collective experience and a boldness of vision, the band crafts a record that feels immersive, challenging, and deeply resonant. By bridging psych rock’s golden past with experimental futures, MIEN not only justify the supergroup label — they arguably transcend it. 'MIIEN' isn’t just a record; it’s a journey through the collective subconscious of four master craftsmen. It demands your attention, rewards deep listening, and invites you to lose yourself in its kaleidoscopic sprawl. As I said, a belter.

Track Listing:-

1 Evil People
2 Counterbalance
3 Silent Golden
4 Mirror
5 How Could You Run
6 Empty Sun
7 Tungsten
8 Knocking On Your Door
9 Slipping Away
10 Morning Echo