As someone who would probably be categorized as a bit of a music snob(I try not to lean into the ways of the snobbery of music critics online, but I can see how I would be associated with them), I am someone who always has to look into that new, unique artist people are raving about on the internet when they pop up. An artist who I have been seeing everywhere lately and just can not ignore is Magdalena Bay. Going into this review, admittedly, I do not know a ton about this artist. The only things I do know are that apparently, they make super unique HyperPop music and that their new record is being praised as one of the coolest releases of the year. Magdalena Bay describes themselves as a Synth-Pop artist straight from the simulation. They have been lauded for their outside-the-box and abnormal approach to Pop music which pushes boundaries in ways that many of their peers would never dream of doing; this is not only through their music but also in the interesting videos that they upload on TikTok and Youtube. Magdalena Bay’s debut album, Mercurial World, was released in October of 2021 to widespread acclaim by critics and HyperPop fans alike. This project put the group on the map as one of the most intriguing up-and-coming artists in Synth-Pop music today. Their second album, Imaginal Disk, was just released a couple of weeks ago. This is the record that I have been seeing in many places online as one of the top releases of 2024, so I knew I had to come to see what all of the hype is about. With that being said, here is how I feel about Magdalena Bay’s Imaginal Disk. Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are from this record, and also comment on how you feel about it as a whole!
I figured I would be in for a pretty weird ride going into this album, and that weirdness starts right from the jump with ‘She Looked Like Me!.’ There is nothing i can even compare this to. I hear some elements of SOPHIE in this track, but I also get some MK.Gee and other weird elements of Pop-Rock as well. The tone of the melody has a lullaby feeling to it, but its mix is anything but soothing. The amount of distortion that comes in and out on this one is grating but also inviting. It is certainly bold, but it is also definitely gripping. The beat for this track is all over the place. At times, it has a marching band feeling to it, and at other times, it has more of a traditional upbeat Pop music feeling. The vocals on ‘She Looked Like Me!’ are just as strange as the instrumental. Somehow, the vocals are sweet and harsh at the same time. They pull me in and push me in as a listener. One thing is for sure: I am certainly interested, and I want more. On ‘She Looked Like Me!,’ Magdalena Bay signs of trying to find her ideal self, comparing herself to a version of herself that sees as being way more happy and free than how she feels. ‘Killing Time’ has a way more tame and inviting sound than the song that precedes it. There are still elements of this track that stand out as very abnormal, but for the most part, this one is a bit more tame. This song has an overall sound that makes me think of Blue-Eyed Soul music. Although it definitely feels way more modern(and even futuristic), I can hear the inspiration of artists like Hall & Oates or Huey Lewis & The News on this track. The melody for this track is so groovy. I love the bassline that drives this one, as when paired with these synths, it gives the song a futuristic Disco feeling. The vocals on ‘Killing Time’ are very delicate and fairy-like. They go so well with the laid-back and angelic feeling this track has(for the most part, as towards the end, it does get a bit more full and distorted). On ‘Killing Time,’ Magdalena Bay longs for a more welcoming and simple life. They feel as if they are wasting their life in the way they are currently living, and they look forward to sleeping so they can dream about their perfect life. ‘True Blue Interlude’ is a pretty simple and easygoing track with a retro R&B feeling to it. The melody and beat for this track make me think of the funkier music that artists like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey made in the 1990s. Now, of course, some ethereal synths complement this melody to make it feel more synthetic and futuristic. I will say, for how sweet this melody is, the piano riff that drives it does have a bit of an off-center quality that makes it a bit anxious. Vocally, this is a pretty strange one. In the background, there is a lot of beautiful humming, as well as a vocalist repeating the phrase “true blue.’ In the forefront, there is a vocalist speaking to the listener in a soft yet kind of unsettling voice. ‘True Blue Interlude’ is an advertisement for the “Imaginal Disk,” which is supposed to be some sort of procedure or method to help someone reach their full potential or become their best self. After the more tame instrumental we got on the last track, I figured we would get something a bit weirder on ‘Image.’ Two styles of music immediately came to mind when this beat first kicked in: The New Wave music of New Order and the DnB of artists like The Prodigy. The melody for ‘Image’ is not nearly as dark or harsh as the music by either of those groups, though. Instead, this song has a very warm and sweet melody that makes me think of artists like Madonna. Vocally, this song is pretty stripped-back. The delicate nature of these vocals makes this song feel even more inviting breakup though the vocals are very low-key, they still stand out. Frankly, this song makes me want to dance the night away. This is the kind of song I would love to hear at a club, as it is impossible to not want to start moving when it comes on. On ‘Image,’ Magdalena Bay seems to go through the procedure of the “Imaginal Disk,” becoming her true self.
The Groovy Retro R&B we were getting on the two songs before ‘Image’ came back on ‘Death & Romance’ in a big way. The basis of this track is driven by an inviting, funky piano riff and bassline put on top of a retro Disco Pop-Rock drum pattern. This gives this song an old-school feeling that I dig a lot. The melody is riddled with futuristic synths and sound effects, though, which give the song a dystopian feeling. The mix on this track is very distorted and almost grating as well. These two elements give ‘Death & Romance’ a dark and almost unnerving element. ‘Death & Romance’ has the strongest vocal performance of the record to this point. I love the raspiness and the power that the vocals are sung with on this track, as they give this song an extra level of emphasis that is very cool. In ‘Death & Romance,’ Magdalena Bay sings of being in love and not knowing if that love is being reciprocated; they also contemplate whether the meaning of life is to be in love. ‘Fear, Sex’ feels like a continuation of the song that precedes it. Melody Wise, these two tracks are pretty similar. ‘Fear, Sex’ does have a bit of a lower and more dim tone to its melody than ‘Death & Romance.’ The tone is pretty similar, though, and the organization of the synths and piano riff feel akin as well. At the end of ‘Fear, Sex,’ the melody gets very distorted and a lot more melancholy, sending the track off of a harsher note. The beat for ‘Fear, Sex’ is pretty different from the one on the precious track. Its tempo is a bit more pushy and a lot more distorted. The drum pattern on this one is almost grating, giving the song a tone of emphasis. Like ‘Death & Romance,’ ‘Fear, Sex’ contains a great vocal performance. I love the attitude that the vocals are sung with on this track, as they give the song a level of sass that makes it so appealing. On ‘Fear, Sex,’ Magdalena Bay sings about a nasty break up, where each partner thinks the other is completely at fault. ‘Vampire In The Corner’ is probably the most relaxed and soothing song of the project so far. This song does not nearly have as much force or emphasis as any of the previous tracks. Everything about this track is unadorned compared to the rest of the record before this point. The melody has a groovy and bright Synth-Pop sound. For most of the song, the melody is pretty subdued and simple. Towards the end of the track, the melody does get more luscious, with some blaring, distorted synths coming in to make the song feel more full. ‘Vampire In The Corner’ has a pretty typical 2010s-esque Synth Pop beat that makes me think of artists like GroupLove or Neon Trees. The vocals on ‘Vampire In The Corner’ are pretty faint, leaning into the tranquil feeling of the track. On Vampire In The Corner,’ Magdalena Bay sings of falling in love and trying to seduce a new partner who is reluctant to be with them. ‘Watching T.V.’ is the slowest and softest song of the EP to this point. Although it has a pretty calm tempo compared to the rest of the album, its melody and mix make it one of the weirdest. It is not even to describe the melody for this track. At times, it is pretty sweet and bubbly, and at other times, it is funky and almost harsher. There is one thing that is constant about this melody throughout the track, however, and that is that it sounds like it came from another planet. Although this melody has a very vivid tone, there is something about its mix that makes it sound a bit apprehensive. ‘Watching T.V.’ has some of the more bold vocals of the EP so far. The vocals on this one pair well with the striking feeling of the instrumental, making this song feel very vast. On ‘Watching T.V.,’ Magdalena Bay sings about the awful breakup they just went through which is consuming their thoughts. They want to change their life and hit the restart button, as they need a new beginning with everything.
‘Tunnel Vision’ continues with the melody we got on ‘Watching T.V.’ In this instance, though, the melody is a lot less distorted and grating. The melody for ‘Tunnel Vision’ pretty much feels like a sparkling and inviting version of the one the song before it. Towards the end of the track, some distorted, crashing synths come in to give the song a bit of emphasis and texture. A funky piano riff also comes in, giving the some an angelic feeling. The beat for ‘Tunnel Vision’ is all over the place. The song starts with a light, upbeat Pop-Rock tempo, switches to more a slower and funkier tempo during the middle of the track, and picks back up with a different but equally as energetic upbeat Pop-Rock tempo to close the song out. The mix on the drums during the outro is very jarring, making the song feel dystopian. The vocals on ‘Tunnel Vision’ are nice, but they do not stand out much; this is probably because of how crazy the instrumental is. On ‘Tunnel Vision’, Magdalena Bay sings about learning to address their faults and accepting that there are things they can change about themselves that will make their life so much better overall. ‘Love is Everywhere’ is easily one of the most palatable and accessible songs on this record. I could see it as one that pops off from this record and helps Magdalena Bay gain a larger fan base. This song excels in its simplicity and complexity at the same time. The melody for this track is so groovy and intriguing. At times, it feels super bright and sugary, and at other times it feels a bit dim and melancholy. ‘Love Is Everywhere’ has a very easy-going and fun beat which I enjoy a ton; when paired with this melody, it makes this song relaxing and energizing at the same time, somehow. The vocals on ‘Love Is Everywhere’ are awesome. I especially like the “rapping” we get during the verses of this one, as they give it a super cool texture. On ‘Love Is Everywhere,’ Magdalena Bay sings their hope that they will eventually find the love they deserve. They want to dive into their urges and let life come to them instead of worrying about the outcome. ‘Feeling DiskInserted’ is the shortest track on the record. To be honest, I do not understand the point of this one. Maybe I have to look more into why it is included in the record, as it feels a bit random. The instrumental for this one consists of warm, twinkling synths with a very fat mix. There are very delicate vocals put over this instrumental which are almost unintelligible. On ‘Feeling DiskInserted,’ Magdalena Bay talks about seeing the world from a different perspective; supposedly, the perspective that they have now that they have gone through their transformation. I feel like this interlude could have had a bit more substance to make it more impactful, but it is what it is. ‘That’s My Floor’ is a track with a sound that is pretty much nothing like anything before it. The first thing I thought of when initially listening to this one is the Reggae Punk music that was big in the 1990s. When I hear the melody and beat, it brings me back to the music of bands like Sublime or 311. Now, of course, there is a futuristic, dystopian twist on the melody and overall mix of this one. Even though this melody is driven by a fuzzy and funky bassline that is reminiscent of that kind of music, the distortion on the melody and beat gives it this strange, robotic element. My favorite thing about this instrumental is the guitar solo that comes in at the end, as it gives the song a level of emphasis that I love. The vocals on ‘That’s My Floor’ are just as strong as the instrumental. The vocals give the song power and help make it feel huge. On ‘That’s My Floor,’ Magdalena Bay wonders if their partner can match them, as they feel like they may be too much for this person.
‘Cry For Me’ brings back a sound that we got earlier in the record that I enjoyed a bunch. The New Wave feeling of the song ‘Image’ returns on this one. There is also a bit of a French Touch/House element to ‘Cry For Me’ as well. The melody for ‘Cry For Me’ definitely feels like New Wave. The gloomy and funky synths that drive this one are so reminiscent of the New Wave of the 1980s. There is also a Disco element to this melody as well; this Disco sound comes through in the piano riff that comes in and out, as well as the sparkling synths with a string instrument sound that pops in and out as well. The beat feels like a cross between New Wave, House, and Disco. Somehow, I can hear elements of all three kinds of music in this drum pattern. ‘Cry For Me’ has some of my favorite vocals on the record. The vocals on this one are sung with an emotional and raspy tone that is really interesting. The wispiness of the vocals contrasts the power of the instrumental, making both elements stand out in their way. In ‘Cry For Me,’ Magdalena Bay signs of wanting to live a life free of all worries or consequences, regardless of how their actions affect others. ‘Angel On A Satellite’ is probably the most tame and “normal” sounding song on the record. The melody for this one does not have the kind of synths or distortion that every other song on the record has. Instead, this melody is driven by a pretty piano riff with a very tranquil tone. The first half of it has what is probably the most subdued and laid-back sound. During the second half, the beat does pick up, giving the song emphasis, but this beat is not very punchy or in-your-face and does still feel pretty laid back. The vocals on ‘Angel On A Satellite’ are solid, but they do not do anything to take the song over the top. They also do not take away from the song in any way. In ‘Angel On A Satellite’, Magdalena Bay falls into the seduction of the “angel” that is helping them change their life. They do not want to succumb to the wishes of this “angel,” but ultimately can not help it. After how massive the sound of this album is, I figure Magdalena Bay would want to close it out with a bang. ‘The Ballad of Matt & Mica’ is not the biggest or boldest song on the record, but it does have a lot of the emphasis and eccentricity that one would expect for the final song on this record. The melody for ‘The Ballad of Matt & Mica’ is very complex and intricate. The basis of this melody is driven by a very charming and funky piano riff. Throughout the song, tons of synths of varying distortion and texture come in and out, giving this song a very full feeling. I especially enjoy the harsher, more squeaky synths, as they make the song feel super ethereal. ‘The Ballad of Matt & Mica’ has a pretty mellow beat compared to what I would expect for a song ending this record. This beat has a pretty typical Pop-Rock tempo that does not stand out a ton; that is okay, though, because the idiosyncratic nature of the melody makes up for the lack of intensity in the beat. I really enjoy the vocals on ‘The Ballad of Matt & Mica.’ These vocals are sung with a pretty hoarse tone; the level of might the vocals are sung with match the energy of the melody and make this track feel larger than life. On the Ballad of Matt & Mica,’ Magdalena Bay sings about hope; they are happy with the direction their lives are going and are thrilled about what is to come. This is a pretty joyous and somewhat epic way to close this record out, and it sends Imaginal Disk off on a strong and positive note.
As I mentioned in the introduction, though I did not know a lot about Magdalena Bay, I had pretty high expectations going into Imaginal Disk. The discourse around this record is that it is a groundbreaking piece of Pop and one of the top albums of the year. I am happy to admit that the hype was more than warranted. Imaginal Disk is an awesome piece of music in so many ways. Sonically, this album is incomparable to any other Pop music being made right now. Maybe it can be compared to music by artists like Charli xcx, but it is even pretty far-fetched when compared to the music she makes. Imaginal Disk is a vibrant plethora of sounds that is so eclectic and unique. Even at times some of the music is challenging, it is still so riveting and fun to listen to. Apart from a couple of songs that do not quite live up to the others, every track on this album is great. Even the couple that are not quite as engaging still fit into the sonic and lyrical theme of the album nicely. Lyrically, this album is a super engaging concept centered around someone trying to achieve their best life by any means possible, even if that gets them to do things that others may feel are controversial. This is a very cool idea which I love getting to explore on this record. Overall, Imaginal Disk is an awesome Pop record. Magdalena Bay did something very special with Imaginal Disk, and it proves that they are at the forefront of Indie Pop and experimental Pop right now.
EAST SIDE VIBES 