mind.in.a.box
Black And White
THYX Records
Few bands would be capable of spreading a single narrative across seven albums and nearly twenty years…or at least capable of maintaining any sort of audience through such an exercise. Yet mind.in.a.box are no ordinary band, with an audience that has followed them not only through the twists and turns of their records’ larger story, but through musical shifts which have found them moving from a nominally futurepop-inspired cyber sound to ever more bombastic and prog-influenced sounds, which Black And White revels in to both its benefit and detriment.
As longtime m.i.a.b. fans know, the narrative threading records from 2004’s Lost Alone forward has built to an epic scale, with Black And White depicting the final (?) confrontation between Black, apostate of the Illuminati-esque Agency and White, its head who seeks Demiurge-like control over both the material world and the mysterious Dreamweb wherein music, love, and truth appear as they actually are (check out Synthpop Fanatic’s recent recap of the whole saga for more info). mind.in.a.box’s musical style has become ever-more grandiose over the last decade to suit this Platonic quest for truth and reality, and Black And White finds Stefan Poiss and his m.i.a.b. collaborators availing themselves of every opportunity to underline the story with as much musical flourish as possible.
After a lengthy table setting track, the spacey and spiralling synths of “Lost And Alone” reach up to wide plateaus with Poiss’ vocals (in all of their variously digitally pitched guises) reflecting on all of Black’s challenges and steeling him and his comrades for their next one. Later, the slow lope of “Sometimes Never” builds towards the sort of keytar-styled solos the band first experimented with back on Crossroads. It’s a record showcasing mind.in.a.box at their most ambitious. The downside of these extravagances is that with little relief from them apart from minimalist spoken word segues, the record’s maximalism can be overwhelming, especially with the album punching in at a whopping 74 minutes. While those who’ve been waiting years to learn how Black and White’s conflict will resolve will no doubt welcome such excess, newcomers (or those checking in with the band for the first time since Dreamweb, perhaps) are likely to find this all a bit extravagant. Moments like the savvy synthpop-rocker “New Wave Propaganda” are the exception, offering self-contained blasts of mind.in.a.box’s neon-hued charm.
One subject which must be taken up with regards to Black And White‘s lyrics and story is how eerily its depiction of the Agency’s authoritarian dystopia dovetails with far-right and anti-vax conspiracies concerning “The Great Reset”, microchipped vaccines, and all of the other horseshit we’ve all had to endure in recent years, despite pretty much all governments agreeing to return to business as usual as if COVID had never happened well over a year ago. On the one hand, it’s easy to see how those various conspiracies have tapped into the same heroic narrative of fighting against unjust authority which science fiction narratives have been using since day one (see The Matrix films or Deus Ex games for similar deployments) and to chalk up Black And White‘s resonances with said conspiracies to that shared lineage. However, lines like “medication is mandatory…refusal may result in the loss of your rights” within the context of “the reset of society” are bound to raise some eyebrows.
So, how to parse this? There are at least three possibilities. First, the long-running theme of the Agency using various forms of mind control to maintain its power may simply have accidentally coincided with more contemporary real-world paranoia. Second, recognizing an opportunity to draw perceived parallels with recent events, lyricist Josh Kreger has thrown these allusions in simply to get a chuckle or a knowing nod with relatively apolitical intent. Third, the dog whistles and their political significance – such as praising Black’s armed storming of the Agency’s headquarters as the act of “The Insurrectionist” – are wholly intentional, whether or not Poiss & co. are aware of how North American listeners might interpret the latter verbiage or agree that vaccines are part of a (clearly woefully inept) international conspiracy akin to the machinations of the villainous Agency. Until Poiss or Kreger offer comment, that interpretation must be left to the listener.
It might be tempting to dismiss these questions as hand-wringing or much ado about the trivialities of lyrics (though holding to the latter is to dismiss mind.in.a.box’s work on the whole – if its substance is of no concern, then why discuss or even listen to it?). But narratives of struggle and conflict don’t exist in a vacuum, and have tractable effects upon the larger zeitgeist (not to mention the sense of disappointment some long-time m.i.a.b. fans are likely to feel at the possibility of a story they’ve invested decades in being paid off in support for January 6ers). If this is simply a case of that zeitgeist having shifted since mind.in.a.box began this work in 2004, so be it, but Black And White has been released in the here and now. Musically, it serves as a capstone or apotheosis of the ambitions mind.in.a.box have been slowly cultivating for years, but thematically it raises some troubling real-world questions even as it seeks to resolve many of its fictional ones.
It is also possible that MIAB actually does deviate from the prescribed left-leaning doctrine so fashionable and predictable (and boring) among musicians. It is possible that the parallels are unironic. It is possible that they really do believe that coordinated narratives generated by a wealthy, technocratic ruling class are to be held in some suspicion. It is possible to be skeptical over how greedy multinational pharmaceutical conglomerates went from being vilified to obeyed uncritically in a remarkably short span, over a flu. All of these things are possible and if one reads carefully through the THYX albums, I would say likely, though I would not say MIAB is on the “right” necessarily but more on the libertarian side (Austria is arguably the birthplace for this!)
I’ve enjoyed MIAB’s music a lot and have very negative views towards Stefan Poiss’ conspiracist politics and anti-scientific views about vaccines. I just started listening to the album as I began typing this post and am taking it in, but my general viewpoint towards this kind of thing is that genuine artistic merit in every age has come from a variety of different points of view including both progressive and reactionary, and it’s usually in retrospect that people come to appreciate the art removed from the political context of the time because the issues of the day had long been settled.
I think the most we can really ask of artists is that they demonstrate talent and conviction. That is, they believe in what they’re saying, and have an intensity of vision. That vision may be false in some sense.
That’s a nuanced viewpoint, and I appreciate it.
You mention Stefan’s “conspiracist politics and anti-scientific views”… Just curious, I did try to google around to see this for myself but couldn’t find anything. Is there anywhere you can show me that?
I’ve been a huge MIAB fan for years (2x signed poster, some jewelry, and a mug xd). I believe every artist should be allowed to express themselves but I would like to know if Stefan is anti-vax. He’s entitled to be, of course, but I’d like to know the truth 🙂
Never mind, I found it. https://www.parlament.gv.at/gegenstand/XXVII/SNME/128812?selectedStage=100
I actually thought it was about the dangers of the overabundance of marijuana where the agency mass produces it without any warning, knowledge, etc. and how MIAB is the guide, can help us navigate through the dreamweb aka that higher than high transcendent state one attains similar to what one can attain via meditation (turiya). While traversing in my mindspace (while partaking), I imagined I was connecting with the deceased loved one(s) of mine where they all encouraged me not to partake like this, and that it can come with a “heavy cost” <–lyrics in MIAB song. It's mass marketed as safe but it does come with hefty costs …. elevating liver enzymes, CNS impacts, depending on if one has dormant or active genetic predispositions to certain things. I've witnessed several people where prior to doing and after, they changed in nearly irreversible ways. It IS addictive – may be not to some but to others. We hardly understand the plant and I am NOT saying it's bad, I'm saying we have a long way to truly understand as every person has their own highly unique, hand-tailored experience(s) and even those change time to time. Those are a bit in the lyrics too I found. Having a guide showing us the proper way through is needed and MIAB — "new wave propaganda" is kind of like just the mass dealing where the government is not the cartel LOL… and we are all addicted and while we are, we're not paying attention to the world events going on. Our mind is in an altered state so we are fixated on the left hand and not paying attention to the right hand! Meaning, in IRL world events…while we "sleep" through this eupohoria. We all have been there, we all have had grief and pain and go to this for soothing (also in the lyrics somewhere).
Truth be told, we love this….it brings us enjoyment, happiness, an enlightened and euphoric state. Only ones who know the secrets (of the mind, life/living) may attain that special state where they truly…TRULY ….. are in a unique zone not attained by all but only some who have educated themselves, practiced, etc…. who are self-aware…. etc.
This is a versitile album where people can come away with their own unique takes like a critique of a beautiful painting: one may draw many meanings and interpretations and there is no right or wrong perhaps.
I adore MIAB. I am attempting to actively get off this substance actually and this is honestly my personal take on the substance too. It may be neither good nor bad but if misused, misunderstood, it can come with a toll as with anything. We are being fed thoughts that it is safe, it's in drinks, gummies, vapes, easily accessible at gas stations (Delta-8) and made to seem so wonderful. I've had some enlightening experiences where I question all of this. I've observed as I have said, and so forth. I stink at writing a post so I hope someone out there appreciates it. I love it b/c I feel more creative but at the same time, I personally just feel I wish I could understand how to use it better, not having realized I have OCD, ADHD, addict-type nature in my being, am overly sensitive, etc.
Anyways.
I hope someone enjoyed my interpretations and I love reading others. I would love to know what MIAB was thinking when they did this album too…that would be wonderful to know. And I don't even know if this might apply to just one song or all the songs…. I don't think it's for all, but def "New Wave Propaganda" omg. hehehe
When we lose our loved ones…. what happens to them… this also can be explored in that state of mind/being like a transcendent state to press up against the veil and see through to "the awe" or whatever you call it for lack of better wording. Not the afterlife..but "the MORE………" like…. totes there's def more and the soul goes somewhere. Law of Conservation of energy & matter; we don't know all the secrets of the universe you know this is quite possibly true. Please don't troll me ifi disagree… I just wanted to share and was so excited to make this connection as it for me is on a very deep level.
I adore MIAB for this reason–their writing, their songs, they pour their soul into what they do, truly. I just hope they make ANOTHER album! It's ok if it takes a long while but my god…. AND THYX. 🙂 🙂 🙂
After listening and growing in many ways, I have come here to edit my thoughts… it’s a very deep album. It’s so introspective…. i just fail to have the words right now to properly express how much appreciation i have for this band and all they’ve done. i truly hope they do release another album and tour in Chicago one day. I’d love to bring my children to a concert.. but it’d have to be under 18 (teens …so it’s tough to get them to one singular concert). I got off my habit….. I am feeling much better these days as well as to be honest, THC helped me through C-PTSD … but then I had to help my own self. “The Agency” felt like a metaphor for reliance, or overprotection… of the systems we have in place in our lives….
So basically…. yeah. I’m in a far better place and it’s directly related to these albums as one of many positive and growth-inspriting elements of my life.
Thank you for all you do.
😉
this was one of the greatest albums you’ve made and i love listening to your music with my sons over the years.
Late to the party, but I just found this review and this is the first time I see anyone mention what I’ve known for years. I’m so glad it’s not just me anymore.
I’ve always been a huge fan of MIAB but some years ago I’ve learned of the bands’ conspiratorial leanings first hand and it sadly left no room for interpretation for me. It broke my heart to learn that someone I had so much respect for held some pretty wild beliefs – not only that, but they even found a new lyrics writer to channel it all into their music in the clunkiest way possible.
And yeah, old MIAB albums (pre 2016) also deal with the agency and whatnot, but they absolutely hold up to this day, IMO. The lyrics written by the original collaborator were vague and open to interpretation, and were still based in actual human emotions rather than whatever we get now. They’re also just better as lyrics and you could tell they were much easier to sing.
Anyway, I don’t wanna cancel the band or anything, they’re pretty quiet on social media and as far as I know aren’t causing any harm. But I do think people should know where these lyrics are coming from and who writes them so they can make an informed decision.