by ANDERS GUSTAFSON
A&E EDITOR
Mica Tenenbaum and Matt Lewin have been making music as Magdalena Bay for almost a decade. Their sound has always been full of catchy hooks and atmospheric soundscapes, and it has a DIY quality that also calls back to the early 2000s internet.
The group has become concerned with telling a story in their music on this album, something they have yet to do before. The album’s arc is about aliens inserting “imaginal disks” into apes, which turns them into humans. The protagonist, True, faces issues as her body rejects the disk and goes on a journey to discover what it means to be human. The themes of what it means to be human are present throughout the album, but most of the story told in the lyrics is just subtext. The story makes much more sense with the music videos, listening to the album within the context of the narrative.
The story also conveys Magdalena Bay’s growth. The production here sounds more downtempo, and the lyrics feel more personal. Tenenbaum, the lead singer, sounds much more human and less processed here compared to some of the group’s older, popular singles such as “Killshot” and “You Lose!” Tenenbaum shows her vocal range from calmer songs like “Watching T.V.” to tracks with more emotional vocals like “She Looked Like Me!”
There are many different sounds on the album. The strings and various instruments on “Cry for Me” create a distinctly nu-disco sound, and the contrast between the ethereal chorus and funkier verses on “Love Is Everywhere” makes it one of the most memorable songs on the album. The dissonant guitar solo on “That’s My Floor” is very atypical, but it works in the context of the song.
The group’s trademark production unites every song on the album. However, one of my complaints is that not every song has its own identity, and they sometimes blend too much. The music sounds great, but it can become repetitive. Although Imaginal Disk is a great album, I don’t think it would be able to command the listener’s attention for a full hour.
The L.A.-based band actually started in Miami in 2016, releasing music while collaborating long distance. Tenenbaum and Lewin have known each other since high school in Miami. They released their debut album, Mercurial World, in 2021, and the quality of their music has only increased with the release of their new album. Magdalena Bay’s sophomore album sounds like science fiction of the past while still being futuristic. There are echoes of the early electronica of Kraftwerk and ‘80s synthpop. Rather than sounding robotic, the album feels like it came from outer space—full of hooks and otherworldly sounds while the duo creates their universe.
The group has drawn from experimental electronic artists, most notably Grimes. Imaginal Disk, however, is a huge step in the duo finding their artistic identity and style. They produced music videos for every single that preceded the album, all of which have played a part in defining the album and the group’s aesthetic. The album’s run time is 53 minutes, so it’s just long enough to keep you engaged.
There are also notable and accessible pop songs without being too mainstream. “Image” and “Death & Romance” are two that show up back to back and showcase some of the duo’s raw talent. Despite the many catchy hooks and upbeat songs, the sound is also slightly unsettling at times. The double-tracked vocals on some songs create an uneasy feeling, showing the divide between True and her body, which is rejecting the disk.
The album closes beautifully with “The Ballad of Matt & Mica.” It contains motifs that call back to moments across the entire album, especially the opener. It sounds a bit like a loop, but the ending is much more open to interpretation. One element that has set this album apart from Magdalena Bay’s previous works is the atmosphere. The two interludes contain beautiful instrumentals that would be great as full songs. They help immerse the listener into the album and serve as stunning transitions.
The group’s sound has clearly evolved, and they’ve already amassed one of the best discographies of the decade.
The Mainsheet 