In a world where technology becomes more present in our lives every day, it’s up to artists to show us what makes our humanity special.
Imaginal Disk is an album about the question of perfection: if there was a way we could fix all of our perceived flaws, would it even be worth it? The narrator, played by the band’s lead singer Mica Tenenbaum, wishes to be more ordinary and is ashamed of her imperfections. Within a hypnotic soundscape of synthpop, we go through a journey with our narrator as she sees a more perfect version of herself on the opening track (“She Looked Like Me!”). She later receives the “Imaginal Disk,” a sci-fi procedure shown in the imaginative album cover in which a special disk is inserted into someone’s head that transforms them into their flawless self. Throughout the course of the album, we are treated to this new, “ideal” life, and slowly realize how much someone would lose their originality and uniqueness through it. No track displays this better than “Watching TV,” where our protagonist realizes her new life is idle rather than ideal, performing mundane tasks such as watching television instead of having any real excitement in her life. The track ends with a call to “meet the monsters inside you,” as she wishes to confront her personal struggles through reflection instead of sealing them away with the “Imaginal Disk.” By the time we reach the closing track (“The Ballad of Matt & Mica”), Mica wishes for a life that is “not ordinary” while she recounts the path of hard work the band took in real life. A rich, yet dissonant and uncertain orchestra plays the final chords of the album, leaving us to sit with the dystopian world of uniformity and perfection the “Imaginal Disk” would create. Imaginal Disk is an ode to the creativity of the human spirit.
While this science fiction tale appears to be the story on the surface, a dive into the band’s history reveals a second meaning. Mica moved to the United States when she was young, but her family is originally from Argentina, where her parents grew up. In the story of Imaginal Disk, we can see that Mica believes her parents lived a storybook life, one that she wishes she could live up to and feels she has failed at reaching. This interpretation of the album’s content may have been what inspired the external dystopian story that exists as a facade for a more universal message. Though all of us want to work hard to achieve a perfect life, Imaginal Disk shows us that striving for that goal may only make us lose ourselves.
2024 has been one of the most exciting years for pop in recent memory. The meteoric “Rise” of Chappell Roan in the later months of 2023 entranced the world with her strong vocals, ‘80s synths, and infectious hooks. Later, Charli XCX would take over the summer with Brat, catapulting hyperpop even further into the mainstream. While both of these albums excelled at the classic tropes of pop music, they also embraced the weird, the creative, and the unique, distinguishing themselves from the typical chart-topper.
Just like Charli XCX and Chappell Roan, Magdalena Bay combines the unusual with the mainstream on Imaginal Disk. Along with the aforementioned messaging of self discovery and originality, this album is a layered synthpop masterpiece constructed with sounds of the past and the future. One of the greatest things about this album is its flow. At times, it can be hard to realize a new song has started, as the album keeps a consistent sonic palate and has seamless transitions between songs. The production is a key strength of this album as well. Throughout the experience, the listener is surrounded with synths, drums, bass guitar, and pure auditory lushness while Mica’s sugary sweet vocals glide over top. Tracks like “That’s My Floor” and “Image” are fantastic, funky dance cuts with addicting melodies and groovy basslines. Other tracks like “Tunnel Vision” and “Angel on a Satellite” highlight the beauty in simplicity as they strip back to simple piano melodies and charming soundscapes. My personal favorite song is “Death & Romance,” which begins with swirling synths and jazzy piano chords before introducing a powerful bass. By the time we reach the chorus, the song has ballooned in scope while still maintaining those catchy melodies and pop appeals. And seriously, there is no better feeling than listening to “Tunnel Vision” late at night—trust me. If you are a fan of pop, indie, funk, or artists like Talking Heads or Madonna, this album will likely appeal to you.
Lastly, the thematic tracks of the album are what really tie it together. Interludes are sprinkled through the album to remind listeners of the story and familiar motifs repeated throughout, and the album is bookended by two tracks with the same melody but entirely opposite vibes and lyrics. This truly makes the album feel like a complete experience. It is a journey through fun, through fear, through funkiness, through calm, through sadness, and through hope. The message of this album will ring true for everyone who has ever wanted to achieve anything: we must all remember to embrace what makes us, “us,” and that is why imperfection matters.
Favorite Tracks: Death & Romance, Tunnel Vision, That’s My Floor, Vampire in the Corner
Rating: INDY
Elliot Anderson is a freshman in the College studying Biology and minoring in Obscure Music Facts.
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