More than four decades ago, an individual recorded a song from the radio onto a cassette tape. While this was a common practice in the 1980s, all details regarding the song have vanished, leading to what online detectives refer to as a lostwave – a track with no associated information. The song, currently known as “CIA,” remains a mystery with no known singer, recording location, or official title.
The quest to uncover the origins of this enigmatic tune has captivated online investigators for years, expanding to the Waterloo region in southern Ontario in hopes of finding answers. Joe Gaschler, a forum moderator dedicated to unraveling the mysteries behind lostwave songs on Reddit, described the unidentified track as a “42-year-old Canadian musical cold case.”
Gaschler shared that a vast online community has been actively involved in the search, with countless individuals contributing to unravel the mystery surrounding the elusive band behind “CIA.” The only known details about the song are that it was aired on CFNY-FM, now known as 102.1 The Edge, and potentially recorded onto tape in the mid-1980s, possibly around 1984.
The song’s sound reflects the typical vibe of the mid-1980s, reminiscent of bands like A Flock of Seagulls, Platinum Blonde, The Cure, The Romantics, or Duran Duran. Gaschler mentioned that the search has extended to the Kitchener-Waterloo area, with speculations suggesting that the band might have originated from a location outside the Greater Toronto Area.
Despite extensive efforts by online sleuths, including detailed vocal and instrumental analyses, the mystery behind “CIA” remains unsolved. The search has drawn attention from renowned figures like Alan Cross, a seasoned broadcaster and former music director at CFNY-FM, who has appealed for assistance in identifying the song.
As the hunt for the song’s origin continues, enthusiasts remain hopeful that the elusive band behind “CIA” will eventually be unmasked, allowing them to receive the recognition they deserve for creating a beloved track that has intrigued music aficionados for decades.
If you have any information regarding this mysterious song, you can visit the sub-Reddit CIAlostwave or reach out to CBC K-W at yournewskw@cbc.ca.