If you were given the opportunity to transform into your idealized self with a modern medical procedure, would you take it?

Magdalena Bay’s sophomore album “Imaginal Disk” was released this Friday. It revolves around the bizarre concept of a CD that can be surgically implanted into your mind, upgrading your consciousness into “the purest you.” The synthpop duo — comprised of vocalist Mica Tenenbaum and producer Matthew Lewin — exploded onto the scene with their critically acclaimed debut “Mercurial World” in late 2021. For many, the bombastic “You Lose!” or titular “Mercurial World” were the perfect introduction to Mag Bay’s kaleidoscopic dreamland.

Both conceptually and compositionally dense, their newest release matures the psychedelic duo’s one-of-a-kind sound as we hear them at their most grandiose and philosophical. This 15-track odyssey weaves tales of redemption and self-actualization throughout the record’s swirling, synthy landscapes. 

In a Vogue interview, Lewin revealed that the title is based on imaginal discs “with a C,” a genetic code inside a caterpillar’s cocoon that can rebuild the insect from its melted down, goo-like state into a butterfly — all while still retaining its memories. Lewin shares that “[the title] became this double entendre with the CD disk concept… and this symbol of metamorphosis.” 

This idea of transformation persists throughout the record; regretful sentiment and a yearning for absolution envelop the ethereal phonics of “Imaginal Disk” in a mist of melancholic longing. Whether it be on the sublime bongo-backed piano ballad “Angel on a Satellite” — where Tenenbaum sings tenderly of the emotional catharsis that she craves from art, or the dance-pop anthem “Death & Romance” — tackling themes of destructive yet irresistible infatuation. The feeling of yearning for cosmic change oozes throughout the record.

The hypnotic and floaty synthpop single “Image” sees Tenenbaum pleading for a cure to her worldly woes: “I need confidence / Confidence in medicine.”  Mica’s playful vocal delivery dances alongside the funky, gradually distorted bassline, as the refrain of “Oh my God” slowly shifts from an exclamation of anticipation to irreversible regret in a masterful display of nuanced songwriting. 

Mag Bay demonizes these ineffective shortcuts to self-love, instead discovering a more concrete solution in the reflective cut “Watching TV,” where Tenenbaum proclaims, “If you want to be clean / You gotta scrub until the blood comes out.” Through this somewhat grim lyricism, their ideology that arduous work must be put in to reclaim purity becomes crystal clear to even the most casual of listeners. 

The sentiment of perpetual transformation is present in the production as much as it is within the lyricism, as Mag Bay once again proves that they are unmatched when it comes to crafting ever-evolving song structures. “Tunnel Vision” leads with soft, dreamy synths accented by distant horns before the synthetic world of “Imaginal Disk” twists into a hellscape hiding beneath the surface — manifested as a prog rock head-banger complete with unintelligible demonic shrills and hypnotic guitars that roar out like sirens. 

Though the track list varies in mood, shifting from the sunny and hopeful “Love is Everywhere” to the boisterous grunge cut “That’s My Floor,” the album always manages to feel cohesive within its eccentric concepts and instrumentation. The album concludes with the self-referential “Ballad of Matt & Mica,” which interpolates the mellow vocal melodies from opener “She Looked Like Me!” into an assertive, punchy topline begging to be screamed from hilltops. The track calls back to several lyrics and themes present throughout the album, neatly tying up this life-affirming record with a neon-colored bow.

With such a distinctive and inventive sound, Magdalena Bay effortlessly entraps listeners within their psychotropic meadows and fluorescent dance floors. On “Imaginal Disk”, the pair reiterates their expertise in constructing lush soundscapes, infectious hooks and bittersweet sentimentalities. Without a single dud within its runtime, “Imaginal Disk” is a must listen for not only fans of synthpop, but anybody who revels in consuming such singular art. 

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