Magdalena Bay
Mini Mix Vol. 1-3

If I’m not mistaken, my “debut” on this site was the review of Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay, an album I still consider the best release of last year. I can’t deny it, I’m in love with the duo made up of Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin, and I consider them one of the top five bands of the, let’s say, contemporary era. Even though it’s a different work, more dance-oriented and immediate, I also adore Mercurial World; so, when I found out that Luminelle had released a compilation gathering all three of their mixtapes, I dove right in. And of course, I wasn’t disappointed.

These gems for connoisseurs contain short songs—pop sketches, we could call them—of about two minutes each, but perfectly accomplished, rounded, marked by a clear identity; a finely chiseled work that shows how Magdalena Bay are true artists, standing out in a contemporary scene that is often—but not always—lackluster or mediocre.

The true masterpiece here is the first mini mix, where the transition from one track to another is even more successful; after a postmodern intro, Mica and Matthew craft six tracks capturing the band’s very essence, with seductive and romantic passages and disco/dance upticks—those who know them are well aware they’ve been freely drawing from the 80s at least. El Dorado includes verses in Spanish, while the lyrics of U Wanna Dance? are fantastic: it’s a fucked up world, are you cool enought to get it? After some pop sparks consciously flirting with excess, you reach a song like Mine, which proves how the duo can conjure up nocturnal atmospheres dripping with truly intense romance—just like Prophecy from Mercurial World. Here you’ll find some of the duo’s earliest tracks, already displaying an enviable artistic maturity.

The other two mixtapes, personally, I found less memorable; I’ll just mention two highlights: Live 4ever, which perfectly captures the mood of a nighttime ride among the city’s neon lights, and the lush conclusion of Slug Song (Reprise), where we’re once again catapulted into their ever-changing mercurial world. All of this is sealed by a surreal cover paying homage to the duo’s distinctive DIY style.

I realize that maybe a band like Magdalena Bay may not fit the typical taste of many users, but when you have a moment I invite you to click on the link I’ll leave and give them a chance. Till next time!