Back catalogue: Pop

Review: Los Angeles-based alt-synthpop duo Magdalena Bay are by far the best in their lane right now - something they already established with their highly popular debut album Mercurial World back in 2021, with 'Chaeri' and 'You Lose!' striking a serious chord with fans of Charli XCX, Grimes and similar alt/electro-pop darlings. Paired with striking so-bad-it's-good visuals rife with overt effects and editing, it's really the combination of Mica Tenenbaum's distinctive, ethereal vocal performance and Matthew Lewin's textural and multilayered production you will stay for.
Imaginal Disc, sharing its name with structures in insect larvae that develop into adult forms later on in life, is a tale of discovering the essence of humanity after the protagonist's body rejects a CD that aliens attempted to implant in them. The album sees Lewin firing on all cylinders, the duo honing so closely on their specific sound that it's incomparable to anything else. Lead single 'Image' is a marvel, danceable in all the right places, moody and chord-striking when it needs to be. Magdalena Bay are cementing themselves as a must-know name in the 2020s.

Review: Kylie Minogue returns to her electropop roots with her latest album, Tension. Following her detours into country with 2018's Golden and disco with 2020's Disco, Kylie delivers an album brimming with energetic beats and catchy melodies. The standout single, 'Padam Padam,' has been a viral hit, securing her a spot in the UK Top 10 for the first time in a decade. Tension features 11 tracks, each infused with Kylie's signature blend of playful and sultry vibes. The title track is a vibrant mix of 90s house riffs and vocoder effects, while 'Vegas High' and 'Hold On to Now' shows her ability to turn introspection into dancefloor anthems. Despite slight diversions into funk and disco with tracks like 'Both Hands' and 'Green Light,' the album maintains its exhilarating pace. Closing with the introspective yet uplifting 'Story,' Kylie reassures her fans with a glittering chorus and heartfelt lyrics. Tension is quintessential Kylie, offering an escape filled with shimmering choruses and emotionally rich melodies, proving her enduring charm and relevance in the pop landscape.