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Magdalena Bay: Pop's Cynical Twist
23 Aug
Summary
- Album twists optimistic pop for cynical reality.
- Concept album features extraterrestrial LaserDisc.
- Sound blends '90s Madchester with modern pop sensibilities.
The Los Angeles duo Magdalena Bay has released their second album, Imaginal Disk, a concept record that musically and thematically distorts optimistic pop for a cynical, paranoid world. The album's narrative involves an extraterrestrial LaserDisc as a crucial evolutionary element, leading to a protagonist's journey to relearn humanity.
Imaginal Disk builds upon Magdalena Bay's established sound of internet pop and funk with enhanced production, featuring prominent keyboards, percussion, strings, and synth harp. This larger sonic palette evokes influences from '90s Madchester and Tame Impala's evolution, aiming for the high-fidelity production of peak CD era anthems, though it imbues them with a sense of underlying unease.
While seeking distance from the "pop group" label, Magdalena Bay's music perfectly suits modern pop's candy-floss melodies and sticky hooks, juxtaposed with a subtle feeling that all is not right. The album explores a flow state experience, with tracks like "Watching TV" and "Tunnel Vision" showcasing their left-field pop artistry and experimental arrangements.
