MIEN MIIEN
MIEN's MIIEN stakes a vivid claim at the intersection of trance-born rave energy and psychedelic rock textures, and critics are divided about how successfully the band balances its past and present impulses. Across three professional reviews the record earned a 66.67/100 consensus score, with reviewers agreeing that the album's layered production, reverb-heavy vocals and synth-driven electronics create a memorable atmosphere even when arrangements fray.
Critics consistently point to standout tracks as proof of the record's ambitions. “Evil People” is repeatedly singled out for its tight hooks, Trentemøller-tinged electronics and singalong chorus; “Silent Golden” and “Tungsten” emerge as the album's rave-forward high points, where trance drums, acid bass and urgent energy coalesce. Reviewers also praise “Mirror” and “Slipping Away” for their delicate synth-pop echoes and pacing, while noting recurring themes of haunting vocals, a collage-like production approach, and abrasive guitars that surface amid the dancefloor pulse.
While The Quietus and Dusted Magazine celebrate how the collection marries modern electronic undercurrents with nostalgic touches, Far Out flags inconsistency, suggesting some tracks deliver more feeling than formal payoff. The critical consensus suggests MIIEN is worth attention for its most vivid moments - the collaborations of trance elements, layered production and live music energy make certain songs essential listening - even if the full record feels uneven at times. Read on for detailed reviews that unpack where the album succeeds and where it stumbles in MIEN's evolving catalogue.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Silent Golden
2 mentions
"floating delicate, heavily reverbed vocals atop everything"— Dusted Magazine
Tungsten
2 mentions
"‘Tungsten’ unfolds like a sci-fi cityscape."— The Quietus
Evil People
3 mentions
"makes a collage of disparate sounds"— Dusted Magazine
floating delicate, heavily reverbed vocals atop everything
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Evil People
Counterbalance
Silent Golden
Mirror
How Could You Run
Empty Sun
Tungsten
Knocking On Your Door
Slipping Away
Morning Echo
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 4 critics who reviewed this album
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Critic's Take
The four members of MIEN make a case on MIIEN for psych that looks forward as much as back, and the best songs on the album - notably “Evil People” and “Mirror” - show that balance. The opener “Evil People” sticks to a tight path, its Trentemøller-tinged electronics and Alex Maas’ chorus vocals keeping the hooks concise, while “Mirror” carries the delicacy of early 1980s synth pop. Elsewhere “Tungsten” unfolds like a sci-fi cityscape and the urgent “Slipping Away” keeps the record present and paced. Even when Maas’ vocals muddy toward the end, the record’s modern electronic undercurrents and layered production redeem many of the strongest tracks.
Key Points
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The best song, “Evil People”, balances modern electronic production and concise hooks, making it the album’s clearest standout.
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MIIEN’s core strengths are its electronic undercurrents, collaborative layering, and ability to fuse psych-rock with synth-pop textures.
Themes
Critic's Take
In its best moments on MIIEN MIEN makes a collage of disparate sounds that cohere into thrilling peaks - the sinuous bass and heavily reverbed vocals push tracks like “Evil People” and “Silent Golden” to the fore. The reviewer revels in abrupt bursts of guitar and antsy drum rhythms, suggesting the best songs are those that marry trance pulse with jagged noise. If you want to know the best tracks on MIIEN, listen for the centerpieces that pair floating vocals with stabbing guitar flourishes, especially “Evil People” and “Silent Golden”.
Key Points
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The best song succeeds by marrying trance pulse and jagged guitar with reverbed, floating vocals.
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The album's core strengths are its textural collage, trance rhythms, and abrasive guitar punctuation.
Themes
Fa
Critic's Take
I’m sitting at my laptop after hearing MIEN and the way MIIEN captures the pulse of crowded dancefloors stays with you - it is more feeling than sound. Tracks like “Silent Golden” and “Tungsten” emerge as the record’s high points, where trance-like drums and acid bass make you feel both timid and aggressive, exhilarated and afloat. Even the more tranquil moments, such as “Mirror” and the closing “Morning Echo”, carry that same live, spellbinding energy. For anyone asking what the best tracks on MIIEN are, start with “Silent Golden” and “Tungsten” - they most fully deliver the album’s rave-born intensity.
Key Points
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Silent Golden is best because its drums and acid bass make it trippy, addictive and a definitive statement of intent.
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The album’s core strength is capturing rave-like feelings through synths, off-kilter drums and haunting vocal production.