Magdalena Bay’s new concept album, Imaginal Disk, starts off like the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, but with a twist.
Instead of just exploring space, Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin introduce a missing link between primates and humans: an alien LaserDisc implanted in the forehead. The story follows Tenenbaum’s character, True, who needs a hardware upgrade but finds her body rejecting it. After this, she has to relearn “what it means to be human.” The storyline might sound a bit like a sci-fi young adult novel, but it’s all part of the fun, especially with the playful wordplay in track 11, “Feeling DiskInserted?”
Since she began in 2016, Magdalena Bay has been making internet pop and light funk music filled with spinning melodies and clever jokes. Imaginal Disk has that same vibe, but bigger and more energetic—there are more keyboards, more drums, and even a string section. The whole album reminds you of the 90s Madchester scene, Tame Impala’s growth after Lonerism, and the high-energy sound of CDs when record companies were doing really well. One of the songs, “Death & Romance,” even has a big, catchy chorus that sounds a lot like New Radicals’ “You Get What You Give.” But unlike the usual big, crowd-pleasing anthems, Magdalena Bay’s music feels more like the chaotic mix of things you see when scrolling online: they take a generally upbeat sound and give it a twist to fit a more skeptical and worried view of the world.
Matthew Lewin recently said that he hopes the band will be seen more as an “alternative” group rather than just a pop band, pointing out that they’re not really in the pop charts. It’s understandable he wouldn’t want to get too involved with the intense fandoms that often come with pop music. However, this might also be a comment on how female singers, like Tenenbaum, who has a style similar to Tennis’ Alaina Moore or Gwen Stefani covering Talk Talk, are often labeled as “pop.” Modern pop, with its catchy melodies and hooks, is actually perfect for Magdalena Bay. It has a fun sound, but there’s always a feeling that something’s not quite right, like nobody could keep up such a cheerful appearance without something shady going on behind the scenes.
The big concept of the album works well, even though not every song hits the mark. “Vampire in the Corner” feels more cute than scary, and “Love Is Everywhere” sounds like a space band playing in a cantina. Maybe this is all part of the story? When Tenenbaum sings confusing lyrics, it makes you wonder if you’d understand better if your brain was reprogrammed. The lyrics aren’t always easy to follow, so it’s best not to overthink them—sometimes Tenenbaum plays the voice of reason, and sometimes she’s like a robot. In “True Blue Interlude,” she sounds like a spokesperson for disc implants, saying, “It’s here. Say hello. It’s you,” with the confidence of someone advertising shampoo. Later, in “Fear, Sex,” she’s suspicious of the whole idea of a computer-enhanced human, singing, “Shoulda known those dirty bastards/Would put wires in your head.”
In a playful twist, True’s story is based on the real journey everyone takes to become themselves. In “The Ballad of Matt & Mica,” the band tells a story that could be about Tenenbaum’s real-life move to Los Angeles to work with Lewin. It’s a happy ending, adding to the album’s pop feel. With its mix of electronic grooves and personal stories, Imaginal Disk might be seen as the colorful L.A. version of David Bowie’s Black Tie White Noise. The best part of Magdalena Bay’s music is that it works as catchy pop while also creating their own sound.
English