EXEXEXO…
The happiest, funnest, bestest ever synthpop duo is back with another mix to keep fans sated during the long wait for a new album. But just because it’s only 15 minutes long doesn’t mean it’s not fantastic.
mini mix vol. 3
Magdalena Bay
Synthpop
I don’t often review mixtapes here on Conquest of Gaul, but that’s mainly because there’s so few that are anything more than just an extended teaser single for a new album.
Magdalena Bay, creators of 2021’s greatest diversion, Mercurial World, are no strangers to the mixtape game however, frequently releasing nibbles of work in a fairly steady flow since 2019. Three EPs and now three mixtapes show just how insistent the duo is on maintaining a consistent output.
With mini mix vol. 3, Magdalena Bay continue to show why they are the most exciting and adventurous pop act in modern music. Instead of using a synthpop aesthetic to create club bangers or as facade for much darker fare, the duo approach the style in an utterly delightful, lighthearted manner that leaves the listener feeling more playful than existential.
“EXO” uses a loop that is as heavy as any garage rock outfit could produce, but it’s complimented by Mica Tenenbaum’s incredible vocals and an arrangement of backing percussion and vocal coos that make the song a sort of brain candy.
“Top Dog” also stands out in a genre full of copy/paste neon platitudes, with Tenenbaum’s voice coming across in a sticky seductiveness, while Matthew Lewin’s production of smooooove bass lines, glistening synths, and distantly mixed barks ensures that the track never becomes disingenuous.
And new sonic direction is explored on “Wandering Eyes,” a slow-burn pop song that pulls more from 60’s psych-folk and modern MGMT than anything in the synthpop world. Lewin’s impeccable guitar and synth production and Tenenbaum’s expertly-delivered, pleading vocals mix for quite the little experiment, showcasing just what the duo are capable of.
Sure, it’s over in 15 minutes, and it probably won’t even get you to the highway on your morning commute, but it’s the catchiest little EP … erm—mixtape that’s come out this year, and it’s just one more example to show Magdalena Bay’s in the top of their class.
