Album Review: C.I.A Hippie Mind Control – The Oresteia (Self Released)

The Oresteia is the new album from the enigmatic and exciting psychedelic death/doom band C.I.A Hippie Mind Control. Released on June 9th, 2023.

Any other band and three tracks would feel like being short-changed when it comes to an album. However, C.I.A Hippie Mind Control are not any other band and each of the three tracks on offer here can best be described as ‘f**king mental.’

The experience of listening to C.I.A Hippie Mind Control has always been something else, but they’re pushing the limits of their imagination here. There is creativity and then there is insanity, and C.I.A Hippie Mind Control seem to not know the difference.

Absurdly abrasive, exceptionally errant, and with so much polarising progressive psychedelia throughout, it’s extremely hard to recommend. Simply because there are no comparisons. Everyone wants to sound like their own thing, C.I.A Hippie Mind Control are undeniably their own thing. A misshapen, grotesque, and maddening thing.

So, why are they, and this album, so compelling? It’s because they are so strange. The Oresteia has three tracks, each lengthy affairs, and are made up of variety of tones, tempos, and styles. You will hear doom and death, you will melody and atmosphere, you will hear trippy psych and progressive rock, and most importantly, you will hear something quite unforgettable.

As polarising as they are, they continue to elevate the scene by challenging everyone that experiences what they have to offer. Don’t even try to be like C.I.A Hippie Mind Control, that’s impossible, but do note how they truly embrace a ‘do what you want’ mindset.

C.I.A Hippie Mind Control – The Oresteia Track Listing:

1. Agamemnon
2. The Libation Bearers
3. The Eumenides

Links

Bandcamp | Instagram | YouTube