Magdalena Bay • A Little Rhythm And A Wicked Feeling (2020) [RIYL: future-nostalgic pop]

super-talented young pop duo based in LA who released their debut EP in March (and have a bunch of stand-alone singles preceding the EP). they also make DIY/green-screen videos for pretty much every song they've released which has become essential to their charm and appeal.

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1935549572_10.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S5ukw4YOSg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX6Yr83sK_Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhfs1CzzUPM

(also best pop release of the year imo)

This is great. Thanks for sharing

i remember "the girls" was on my eoy tracks playlist in whatever year but i hadn't checked back in on them, these are pretty good too

I enjoyed this EP a lot, it is very much shambhala done right, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the singer was very influenced by Grimes vocal style, to the point it was a bit distracting

I heard one of their previous releases and thought it was promising. This is better - "Good Intentions" and "Airplane" are gorgeous songs

"good intentions" is so great

the singer sounds very much like charli xcx to my ears which is weird because i don't think she's british and charli sounds very british?

I hear a blend of familiar voices: Charli, Grimes as boxedjoy mentioned, and Gwen Stefani in a couple places

they've released a bunch of new singles over the last few months, this is my favourite:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KbkPIjUW-Y

Came across MB while trying to catch up on the year via RYM.

It's been some time since I've heard an electropop band so consistent. Nary a dud in the 20 short songs they've released over the past 17 months. Vinnie (above) nailed the obvious sonic references, I hear some Prince in their melodic tics. Co-sign with Josh, don't sleep on this.

That song ufo linked sounds like Charli in both voice and production now. Love the way it blows up halfway through

really happy to see more love for them!

they just released the second volume of their "mini mix" series which is called mini mix, vol. 2, and they're working on their debut album which is likely to be released next year

here are some tracks from mini mix, vol. 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiATVknOfl4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwl-nF6Uhbo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1cEbOoFgec

mini mix vol. 2 is all good but "live4ever" is still the best from it. super excited for the eventual album

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ben9qDbrLYU

album Mercurial World out 8 october

this is a huge leap forward for them, excited for the album now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlhIk7iPU9o

this rules

I’ve always loved this group but their new songs are absolutely tremendous

Love this new track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQPXX_eZZAk

this is immense, that wall of noise in the chorus!

Holy fuck at Chaeri, I should have been here earlier.

potential top ten track methinks

will be digging into everything else

"good intentions" is their best track still but "you lose" is my favourite of the new ones so far

I’ve always loved this group but their new songs are absolutely tremendous

― monotony

X2

Yeah this new one is great. Cool video too

Honestly proud for Chris from gorillavsbear / luminelle, the list of artists in his label is fucking amazing: Munya, Magdalena Bay and Helena Deland in particular all have been making some of my favorite music of the past years, and they seem to get better with each release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwjshPNrWtY

album's going to be great

4 out of 4 great singles so far.

album is a total triumph! one of this year's best

highly seconded!! what a joy to listen to this knockout of a record ^___^

and of course the record has circular replay value with “The Beginning” flowing seamlessly into “The End” — beautiful stuff *chef’s kiss*

they put a lot of effort into the segues

Love it, have it on repeat this morning.

Wow, this album is incredible. I liked the first album a good amount, but this is in a different league.

The step-up from this album to the last one is mindblowing. It’s like they skipped a full album of evolving their sound.

Definitely! I can't remember the last time someone did a step-up this huge. I don't want to go to sleep as I just want to hear this album on repeat.

this album is comfort food; there's nothing wrong with this and hey, they do tweak the formula by adding the odd videogame synth, but it is that familiar now-via-80s vibe and sure you can like it - I'm not even sure I don't - but if I see any of you claiming this as some sort of revolutionary step forward during EOY season I'm gonna be very disappointed

not sure why you're already arguing against some strawman. it doesn't have to be a revolutionary step forward to be a very strong pop album that carves out its own niche very successfully. there's plenty to be excited about here even if it isn't revolutionary.

i also don't think this is that huge a step up from last year's EP, it's certainly better but the signs were all there that they were capable of making something this strong.

if you want them at their closest to how i'm feeling now i recommend "good intentions"

OK, may check that

I'll relisten to the album today, see if the hooks sink in further. As I say, I didn't hate my first listen but it did feel like a (slight) nowification of something that's been prevalent in pop for a few years

i think this album also has much more going on than just 80s reference points - obviously that's a huge part of their sound but they're drawing on all sorts of pop sounds (not just the 80s) fairly liberally. it's a little refreshing compared to how pastiche-y this sort of stuff can often be.

That's why I said now-via-80s! It's very much an album deeply informed by the last few years of pop. You Lose! is at least a monster banger

what sort of recent stuff do you mean? 'now via the 80s' makes me think of like, dua lipa or the weeknd which aren't really what this reminds me of

there's a lot of 90s influences too, "domino" and "you lose!" are shoegaze-ish, "mercurial world" is ray of light-adjacent, "secrets" has that thin 90s synth line along with its very 80s synth orchestral hits, "prophecy" is a 90s-ish r&b ballad, etc.

& yeah "you lose!" is very cool, has anyone even done that sort of chiptune-shoegaze before, or at least that well? i do wish the album represented the side of their sound that's keeping up with charli's best work though, "good intentions", "live 4ever" etc.

the only weaker track here is "follow the leader" which isn't bad but just distinctly lacking in hooks compared to the rest

I haven't heard the full album yet but I based on the singles I feel like they are drawing influences from artists whose own influences were from the 80s, rather than directly so themselves

that's basically what I was reaching at yeah

I haven't listened to this album yet, but at least I've finally figured out who imago is on RYM.

i have no idea which 80s-influenced modern pop artists you're talking about as being the key reference points instead. like, i know they love crj but i'm not really hearing that directly or anything. the 80s stuff on this album mostly just sounds like they were listening to scritti politti? while obviously not some revolutionary new sound it's distinct enough from what's going on with 80s revival stuff in mainstream pop or even shambhala stuff

i think the 80s influence is reflected more in their extra-musical aesthetic than really in their music. i agree that their influences are too wide-ranging, it's a bit reductive to just lump all of that into "the 80s," or whatever.

anyway, this is a pretty good album. the pre-released singles and the bookends are the clear highlights for me. the singer seems to take a lot of inspiration from britney.

xp like the modern stuff i can think of that sounds closest to the 80s stuff on this album is pretty much all minor indie acts who loved scritti politti, not the last few years of pop

even their visual aesthetic (which is a very familiar thing), is drawing on 90s early internet ctuff more than the 80s

That new song sounds like it's off the most recent Clairo album, but then they lay on the interesting textures. It's not quite sticking with me yet.

Mercurial World gets better with repeated listens. I can see where the Ford and Lopatin comparisons are coming from now, esp on Follow the Leader and Dawning of the Sesson. The title track slays.

Follow The Leader may be quietly the highlight. I feel like Neon Indian is another big influence.

New song Unconditional:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQjqyxC97gA

Deluxe version of Mercurial World is up/out featuring the two new tracks, some different mixes, instrumental bits and fifteen 'secret' snippets

I assume the "secrets" come from people calling the hotline that appears in the music video? A pretty fun fan service idea; not sure the results benefit the songs, but I guess this is like the ultimate admission of the monster outside the window in the video linked above.

I just gave this a listen, and I have to say it's not an improvement on the original album. Magdalena Bay said on Instagram that the flow of the album was "super important" to them, but I think the flow suffers significantly.

The Secrets tracks are pretty throwaway, and not many of them are actual secrets or confessions.

Unconditional is an excellent single and every bit as good as the songs on the original album. But it breaks up the flow between Mercurial World and Dawning of the Season, which worked so well on the original.

The 8-bit instrumental of You Lose! is fun but throwaway and doesn't add anything to the album.

The Something for 2 remix doesn't come close to the magic of the original.

Prophesy (Synths and Strings) is nice minimalist reimagining, but it lacks the urgency of the original.

Chaeri (Danny L Harle Remix) is a bad hyperpop reimagining.

Chaeri (Piano and Strings) is a lovely slow-burn ballad.

Dominó (Spanish Version) is pretty self-explanatory.

Mercurial World (Piano and Strings) is another ballad reimagining. The syrupy strings work really nicely.

Overall, I'd say Deluxe is pretty inessential. The original album is much better as a sustained listen.

That said, these tracks would have made a nice little placeholder EP:

1. Unconditional
2. Chaeri (Piano and Strings)
3. Dominó (Spanish Version)
4. Mercurial World (Piano and Strings)
5. You Lose! (8-Bit)
6. Prophesy (Synths and Strings)

Mini Mix 3 now on Bandcamp

it's fine but has nothing on the first two minimixes or the album

or a little rhythm & a wicked feeling

As always they have a meme-y video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgkx28IlFi8

I’m going to let my brain absorb it for a while before making a judgement. I guess if it really isn’t as good they are probably now at a stage where they are keeping the best ideas for any singles/albums.

Think my favourite on any of these mini-mixes is Turning Off the Rain, really wish there was a long version of it.

Nothing on Mini mix 2 actually grabbed me much. 'EXO' and 'Wandering Eyes' on 3 seem like highlights. Personal faves from before the last album are:

Neon
Waking Up
Afternoon In Heaven
U Wanna Dance?
Mine
Ghost

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMJyxP-kUWg

On first listen it seems OK, but not wowed. Seems like they are slowly drifting back to their prog/rock roots?

It's a little Supertrampy. I like the groove more than the song per se.

Autumn Tour announced :)

Got tickets for the London date, not seen them before after wanting to see them for years.

The new one came on right after Steely Dan’s The Bear on YouTube autoplay just now and it was a good combo.

Nice, I will be at the Heaven show too.

im feeling it

New single "Image" is out imminently, and the rumoured album title is Imaginal Disk, possibly out next month

Oh, just now listened to "Death and Romance." I love it! Has a related vibe to Dina Ogon I think, R&B yacht disco fantasia.

I love “death and romance” and I finally know what it reminds me of (specifically the “My hands, your hands I'll hold forever..” and the “Yeah, I give and you give Til it's all that we have”) and it’s very unexpected and I’m possibly alone on this one but it reminds me a lot to the sort of hooks Gregg Alexander writes.

Our new album Imaginal Disk will be out August 23rd

Notice they've changed the London show venue too.

The new track is banging.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfcWOPpmw14

Yeah after a few plays I like it more than Death And Romance but still hoping they find another higher gear.

my favourite of the recent singles - "Tunnel Vision":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-w6qgiNeys

New song new video I don’t know what to feel but I’m really digging what they’re doing for this album so far:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd1i6CYVE6c

We got the album in at work so I've been listening to it over the last few days. It's hard album to get my head around. Definitely a left turn after the debut. It kind of reminds me of MGMT in places. It's a bit Congratulations or their latest album done right.

they've talked about in interviews how they want to be an "alternative" group not a "pop" group and how they've been leaning back into their old prog rock influences for this album and you can definitely hear that

none of the singles have been as good as their best work but "that's my floor" is my favourite so far

album is good, maybe not quite as good as the debut, but not a huge departure ultimately

Cry For Me is astonishing and maybe the best thing they've done.

AOTY (and I still haven’t listened to it yet)

Ok hearing it now and the 4 singles are good but not the highlights imho: “Cry for me”, “vampire in the corner” and “angel on the satellite” are so good.

Aaargh I love this album. What a great year for music.

funny, "Love Is Everywhere" sounds identical to Lil Yachty's "Running Out of Time," which they cowrote. not sure if it is a sample or just the same chords/instrumentation.

greatest band on planet earth

i like that this is bigger/bolder/weirder even if they've lost a little of the pure pop charm

Really digging this, yeah. Not sure how I rank it against the last one, but I don’t think it’s a fall-off.

This keeps growing on me the more I play it but it really is hard to get past Cry For Me which has taken over my life a bit. There's something very Sebastien Tellier and MGMT about it and there's those perfect disco strings and ABBA styled piano.

Yeah “cry for me” is one of the best things they’ve done.

I think I might prefer Imaginal Disk to Mercurial World, but they're hard to compare (and both very good). I hear a lot of MGMT and ABBA, as has been mentioned. really cool to see them build around these new sounds and pull it off so well

otoh, Spotify autoplayed "Secrets" for me after the album as if to challenge my opinion. still a brilliant song

maaaan this is good

Grimes collab :/

for a band so Very Online I have to wonder what the rationale behind this was

it's pretty obviously because they're huge fans and are willing to ignore all her very embarrassing terrible politics etc. and it's just a commissioned remix

like they've said in interviews that grimes introduced them to pop music lol

but grimes's music has fallen off a cliff too so idk why they bothered even beyond all her other issues

Not even worth it for the exposure. They’re almost in the same ballpark of recognition nowadays. But yeah I think Mag Bay cited her as an influence early in their career.

Haven’t even heard the track - or intend to - but I’m sure it’s ass and doesn’t improve the original in any way.

Yeah, I thought it was a weird move too. I listened to the remix and it's terrible. Strips anything interesting out of the production and then just adds Grimes going "oh my GAWWWD, oh my GAWWWD" under the chorus. The whole thing's embarrassing on every level.

Saw they were on Kimmel the other night doing 'Image'. I like the album but MW ended up setting my expectations too high for the next one I couldn't help but feel a bit underwhelmed (not that they should've done another MW). Looking forward to their London show next week tho.

That Kimmel performance was great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1ikXt0aulU

Getting huge Genesis-era Peter Gabriel vibes off of the performance here. The audience seemed really into it.