Calliope Music Review of the Week
Magdalena Bay - Imaginal Disk
The Most Fun Space Odyssey
Florida Synthpop duo, Mica Tenenbaum and Matt Lewin build a new image on their second full-length project, raising the bar of contemporary Pop music to the stars and beyond. Sonically flowing seamlessly from their debut, Imaginal Disk dives deeper into the Mercurial World, opting for a broader, more Psychedelic sound. While keeping a strong sense of their Dance-Pop roots, the group allows any and all influence to seep into the record, culturing an extensive blend of Electronica, Dance, Indie, and Psych. The mixture is so well crafted that it becomes difficult to separate such influences from track to track, making for a stunning coherence.
Although the album's coherence discourages any one song from truly standing out, each cut retains its own creative use of influence. The opener utilizes a tape sample as the backdrop to a shimmering synth crescendo, while 'Death & Romance' employs a bold key progression to anchor a destructive density of electronic components. This is all before 'Tunnel Vision' does away with convention, ending with a monstrous Prog-Rock breakdown, followed immediately by the Lil Yachty-inspired Funk groove on 'Love Is Everywhere.' The duo even gets gothic on the Disco track 'Cry For Me,' resembling a world where ABBA had a hand in the soundtrack for Blade Runner (1982).
Magdalena Bay's production prowess becomes even more impressive when detailing the specific sounds captured throughout the record. Filled to the brim with scintillating synth work, the virtual instrument is used as bouncing leads, blipping atmospherics, disintegrating bass notes, effervescent crashes, and piercing embellishments. The synth base is complemented by authentic drum machines, swelling strings, colorful keys, and an array of sparkling bells and other idiophones. Traditional elements and alternative influences alike enjoy a rush of brilliance, as the record glides through a balanced decoration of electronic vibrations.
This gliding sensation is also felt in the album's narrative, a utopian look at self-improvement. The Imaginal Disk represents a procedure; a rewiring of the brain towards self-betterment according to society's standards. The first few tracks serve as exposition, introducing the protagonist (Mica) and the idealized version of herself she falls in love with. The next five songs see the Disk's procedure at work, breaking down each of Mica's insecurities and fears, shaping her into her ideal self. 'Tunnel Vision' is where the product is complete, allowing Mica to realize the self-love she had been searching for. The next few numbers see the protagonist spread their newfound love of life, possibly even confronting others who may benefit from the Disk's power. 'Cry for Me' seems to be a final beckoning from the character's formal self, asking for a gracious remembrance despite being left behind. 'Angel on a Satellite' is the most convoluted in its concept, but possibly represents the former self truly moving on to join the present self in their newfound happiness. Lastly, 'The Ballad of Matt & Mica' serves as a credit to the journey the two Argentinians have gone through to create such a finely tuned world, finally ending the sonic loop of Mercurial World.
Even while the group chases after a nostalgic sound, a couple times relying on hackneyed 80s and 2000s aesthetics, their accessible ornamentation of those genres emanates undeniable creativity and viridity. With its exuberant synthetics, pristine cadence, and a rich interconnected narrative, Imaginal Disk finds itself in rare company as a smile-inducing space odyssey, exemplifying Pop as a means to progress and self-love.
Best Tracks: Image -- Death & Romance -- Fear, Sex -- Tunnel Vision -- Cry For Me -- The Ballad of Matt & Mica
9/10
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