Kaktus Einarsson's 'Factoid Happiness' Explores Media-Driven Happiness with Indie-Pop

Icelandic musician Kaktus Einarsson released his third album, 'Factoid Happiness,' which examines the darker aspects of modern, media-staged happiness. The album challenges the contemporary notion of happiness as a heavily advertised commodity shaped by social media, despite Iceland ranking second in this year's World Happiness Report. This perspective explains why Einarsson incorporates contemplative moments into his otherwise upbeat indie-pop sound. The album opens with the fast-paced 'Borrowed Dreams' and the poppy spacesounds of 'Glycerine,' before slowing down with the brooding 'The Decipherer,' which still features a light reggae beat. 'Factoid Happiness' showcases two strengths: Einarsson's indie-pop consistently intersects with art-rock, disco, and electro; and he has enlisted high-caliber guest features that add sonic nuances. Rakel, Thibault Gomez, Jessica Winter, and John Grant contribute to four of the ten tracks, each bringing their individual strengths. Notably, Grant's appearance on 'Follow' elevates the swirling song to orchestral brass splendor, which is genuinely delightful. The album demonstrates Einarsson's ability to blend diverse genres while maintaining a reflective undercurrent.