From hypnotic visuals to seamless costume changes to Mica's soaring vocals, Magdalena Bay casts a spell of pure pop magic.
Set beneath a starry night in the warm open air of Palace Foreshore, Magdalena Bay delivered a wave of mesmerising sounds and left a permanent impression on the night.
Ratbag opened the night with a Tim Burton-esque eccentricity and punk-rock sound. Though lead singer Sophie Brown knew how to make the guitar sing, her voice was especially striking, similar to the breathiness of Björk or the resonance of David Byrne. Ratbag’s raw talent and unique yet familiar sound show great potential to take off, making them a band to watch in the coming months.
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For the lead act, the stage was dressed like somewhere between Alice in Wonderland and the innards of a ’90s computer, with nostalgic and dreamlike digital art, a winged magical mirror, and bizarre costumes. It was the perfect backdrop to Magdalena Bay’s melodic sound, silhouetting Mica and Matthew as seemingly otherworldly figures.
The set list showcased Magdalena Bay’s discography as a catalogue of dazzling top hits, with every song recognisable, infectious and impossibly danceable. They opened their act with She Looked Like Me, followed by Killing Time and the next two successive songs of the Imaginal Disk album.
With a masterful ability to build tension in their songs, Killing Time had everyone singing along and swaying, mirroring Mica’s captivating movements.
Magdalena Bay’s mind-bending soundscapes make for something reminiscent of ’60s psychedelic, surrealist rock. The magic extends beyond Mica’s expressive, celestial voice; when paired with Matthew’s incredible guitar, galactic-sounding synthesisers and ethereal backing vocals, something otherworldly comes to fruition, and the whole crowd is transported.
Even if performed stripped back beneath the clear night sky, the music alone would be enough to make an impact. But it’s the performance and visuals that elevate it. Both Matthew and Mica were seen adorning mythical masks. Mica managed to make two costume changes, including very Bowie-esque balloon pants, and a delicate blue dress – the perfect crowd invigorator.
There’s not an ounce of doubt that with Magdelena Bay’s incredible, catchy sound and cosmic atmospherics, they are destined for the stars. We will eagerly await until they return with another electrifying album.
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