Death & Romance
| "Death & Romance" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Magdalena Bay | ||||
| from the album Imaginal Disk | ||||
| Released | May 28, 2024 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:15 | |||
| Label | Mom + Pop | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Magdalena Bay | |||
| Magdalena Bay singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Death & Romance" on YouTube | ||||
"Death & Romance" is a song by American duo Magdalena Bay from their second studio album, Imaginal Disk (2024). Both members of the band—Matthew Lewin and Mica Tenenbaum—wrote and produced the song, while Dave Fridmann mixed it. Released through Mom + Pop Music on May 28, 2024, as the lead single from the album, it marked their first single since the 2021 album Mercurial World. "Death & Romance" is a piano and drums-led psychedelic pop and neo-psychedelia track.
Background
[edit]In 2023, American duo Magdalena Bay released Mini Mix, Vol. 3, a extended play (EP) of seven short songs.[1] Months after, they signed to New York City-based record label Mom + Pop Music.[2] In a statement, the band expressed their excitement for "what the future holds", and announced that "the next stage, the next phase is here".[2] In the following year, Magdalena Bay started teasing the arrival of new music on social media for several weeks.[3]
The single "Death & Romance" was released on May 28, 2024, marking their first official single since the release of their 2021 album Mercurial World.[4] Alongside the release of the song, the duo also announced a concert tour titled The Imaginal Mystery Tour, and revealed the first dates throughout North America and Europe on September, October, and November 2024.[5][6][7] In a statement about the song, Magdalena Bay said: "Imagine rain pouring, streetlights glowing. You sit at home and wait for your alien boyfriend to pick you up in his UFO… but this time, he's not coming".[8]
Composition
[edit]Both members of Magdalena Bay—singer Mica Tenenbaum and multi-intrumentalist Matthew Lewin—wrote and produced the track, which was mixed by Dave Fridmann.[8][5] "Death & Romance" is a psychedelic pop[3][9] and neo-psychedelia track.[10] It is led by piano and drums.[3]
Critical reception
[edit]Exclaim! found that the song "sounds absolutely massive", and compared its intro to the 1999 single "Steal My Sunshine" by Canadian alternative rock duo Len.[11] Paolo Ragusa of Consequence praised Tenenbaum's voice for being "drenched in atmosphere, lending a hypnotic and hazy air to the song".[3] While including "Death & Romance" on its list of the Best Songs of 2024 So Far in July, magazine Dork described it as "pure sonic serotonin" and "the soundtrack to the best night out you've never had, complete with streetlights that glow just a little too brightly and rain that falls upwards".[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Bloom, Madison (April 13, 2023). "Magdalena Bay Share New Mini Mix Vol. 3: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ a b Richardson-Dupuis, Emilie (June 6, 2023). "Magdalena Bay Sign to Mom+Pop Music". Exclaim. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Ragusa, Paolo (May 28, 2024). "Magdalena Bay Return with 2024 Tour Dates, New Single "Death & Romance": Stream". Consequence. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Rettig, James (May 28, 2024). "Magdalena Bay – "Death & Romance"". Stereogum. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ a b Kelly, Tyler Damara (May 28, 2024). "Magdalena Bay sign to Mom+Pop and share their new single, "Death & Romance"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Corcoran, Nina (May 28, 2024). "Magdalena Bay Announce Tour, Share New Song "Death & Romance": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Sam (May 28, 2024). "Magdalena Bay have shared a new single that's sort of about being ditched by your alien, UFO-driving boyfriend, 'Death & Romance'". Dork. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ a b Pappis, Konstantinos (May 28, 2024). "Magdalena Bay Return With New Single 'Death & Romance'". Our Culture. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ a b "Dork's best songs of 2024 (so far) - part 4: Yard Act, Gracie Abrams, PinkPantheress and more". Dork. July 18, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Lesuer, Mike (May 28, 2024). "Magdalena Bay Explore New Territory on Extraterrestrial Single "Death & Romance"". Flood Magazine. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Bell, Kaelen (May 28, 2024). "Magdalena Bay Return with New Song "Death & Romance"". Exclaim. Retrieved October 8, 2024.