Written by Jaden Reynolds
Magdalena Bay, the pop duo from LA, is back and bigger than ever. The duo, made up of Matthew Lewin on production and Mica Tenenbaum on vocals, made waves back in 2021 with the eccentric and futuristic ‘Mercurial world’. The record consists of tracks like “Secrets (Your Fire)” and “You lose!” that would become staples of the underground pop scene. I personally have been following Magdalena Bay for a long time and hold their debut record very close to me. It felt like for the first time in a while pop music was finally progressing in a new and interesting direction. Before the release of the group’s sophomore album, they decided to stay busy, releasing ‘mini mix vol 3.’ in 2023. For a lot of longtime fans, this ep was hit or miss (me included.) That didn’t stop the duo from commercial success though, as one of the tracks “2 Wheel Drive” ended up in the Apple showcase held that year. After the release of ‘mini mix vol 3.’ the group went silent for a while, working away on their next project.
On May 28th, 2024, Magdalena Bay released the first single for their sophomore album ‘Imaginal Disk’. The single, titled “Death & Romance”, and took pop fans everywhere by surprise. This song was not only incredible but was different from anything else they have ever done. The chorus is catchy, and the production is out of this world. Shortly after, the duo announced the album was set to be released on August 23, 2024. Before that though, the group would release three more singles in, “Image,” “Tunnel Vison,” and “That’s My Floor”. The second single, “Image” starts with deep, trance like synths that progress into one of the catchiest hooks on the album. “Tunnel Vison” and “That’s My Floor” are more like their debut record, specifically the track “You Lose!” seeing a pop ballad that is layered with electric guitar. These singles provided a new look into the sound the group would expand on the album to come.
‘Imaginal Disk’ by Magdalena Bay released on August 23, 2024, to critical acclaim. The record is easily the most groundbreaking thing to happen to pop in the past decade (apart from ‘Brat’ by Charli XCX.) There truly is nothing like it. The opening track “She Looked Like Me!” starts off slow but explodes with booming drums and a blanket of synths before a time signature switch. This track also kicks off a lose narrative throughout the album where Mica is replaced by a doppelganger trying to take her place. She is continuously losing sight of which is the real Mica and by then end. The last track on the record “The Ballad of Matt & Mica” calls back to the opening, using the same hook. Because of this, we never get an answer as to who the real Mica is. It is the perfect opener and sets the tone for the rest of the record.
The bulk of the album consists of concise but incredibly creative pop songs. It’s hard to believe this album was made by two people because the sheer number of ideas is astonishing. Tracks fading into each other, a crazy concept, and a fun aesthetic are some of the projects strongest aspects. It creates a world the listener can get lost in. With a runtime of almost an hour, I was scared the track list would be bloated but every moment on this thing feels earned. You can feel the passion both Mathew and Mica have for creating an hour of fun when the listener can forget about everything beside the music. I truly haven’t been gripped by an album this year more than this one.
A turning point in the record for me is track 8, “Watching T.V.”. Before that spot in the record, I was blown away, but this is where I knew I was listening to something special. The first half is the track is a great pop ballad, but the second half is where it really shines. It builds into a soundscape that feels like a warm hug that I can’t get enough of. The record continues with the same sound scape throughout with some of the most quality, well thought-out, and creative hooks and instrumentals of the year. The creativity culminates on track thirteen, “Cry For Me”. It opens similar to “Image,” with trance-like synths but immediately transitions into a funky base line with a beautiful string arrangement following. The combination of all three strings, synths, and the bass line creates an atmosphere I believe is like nothing I’ve ever heard. Just as the instrumental sets in, Mica’s vocals layer over the track setting the tone. Then, the instrumental turns into a combination of bassy synths and a piano that guides your ears through this forest of sound. This moment in the record is my favorite so far. The hook then comes in and is the catchiest music of the year for me. Whenever I think of this record, this is what pops in my head. The track continues to build onto itself until Mica is full on screaming the hook into your ear while being layered with more of her vocals. There’s so much more about this track I could say but please give it a listen yourself.
Overall, ‘Imaginal Disk’ by Magdalena Bay is one of my favorite albums of the year so far. It stands so far apart from their already fantastic debut and will be a pop classic for years to come. I cannot rave enough about this record. Its groundbreaking, original, jaw-dropping, and one of the most exciting and interesting things to happen in pop in a very long time. This makes me incredibly excited for the future of Magdalena Bay, seeing this is just their sophomore release. But for now, I’m going to go listen to Imaginal Disk.
Favorite Tracks: Cry for Me, Image, Death & Romance, Watching T.V.
Least Favorite: None
Rated 9.5 out of 10