{"title":"Kaktus Einarsson","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"lobster-coda","title":"Lobster Coda","description":"\u003cp\u003eIcelandic indie-pop songwriter Kaktus Einarsson releases his second album \u003ci\u003eLobster Coda\u003c\/i\u003e. Amidst a collection of lush, electronic earworms, Kaktus has penned an honest account of his recovery from a sudden functional neurological disorder (FND) that required him to relearn how to use his motor functions, while also performing his duties as a new father. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eLobster Coda\u003c\/i\u003e incorporates dreamy, glistening synth-pop and melancholic ambience, created through layers of atmospheric keys, percussion, and groove-laden funk bass. Kaktus details his journey following a stress-induced nonepileptic seizure that halted his brain’s ability to communicate with the rest of his body, resulting in losing control of his legs, arms and causing involuntary facial tics. Crucially, he spent months on a course of physical therapy while also trying to care for his children and his partner, that by his own admission he then needed to reconnect with. With an occasionally brutal candour, Kaktus’s new album is about taking the time to reflect and recognise changes that need to be made, to listen to your body, and to trust the process no matter how long it might take. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlbum standout ‘Be This Way’ merges the darker post-punk of his previous Fufanu material with glacial pop and additional vocals from Nanna, of the Icelandic band Of Monsters And Men. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e‘Gumbri’ features long-time friend and collaborator Damon Albarn. The Blur\/Gorillaz frontman and Kaktus have known each other for many years, Kaktus played trumpet on ‘Stop The Dams’ at age 15, and shortly after he was flown to London to work on Damon’s debut solo album ‘Everyday Robots’, which they then toured together. Kaktus also engineered ‘Maison Des Jeunes’ for the Africa Express project that Albarn launched. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"One Little Independent Records","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50442657562955,"sku":"2210092","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Cream LP","offer_id":50442657956171,"sku":"2210093","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50442657235275,"sku":"2210091","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Lobster_Coda_28bfbeb9_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727002252"},{"product_id":"kick-the-ladder","title":"Kick The Ladder","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eKick The Ladder\u003c\/i\u003e is the anticipated debut album from Icelandic composer and songwriter Kaktus Einarsson, frontman of post - punk outfit Fufanu, released by One Little Independent. It was produced by Kaktus, alongside Swiss electronic composer Kurt Uenala, and finished in New York City. It draws heavily on the concept of how we as a society relate to our surroundings, whether it’s environmental or personal. For example, ‘Hypnotized’ is inspired largely by the recent deportation of immigrants and their children from Iceland, some of whom have lived there all their lives. He asks “Are the children scared? Do they belong with us here?” Angered, schools marched against the bill which in turn had Kaktus ruminate on the wondrous innocence of youth, and how older generations often find their ethics clouded, forgetting the simple difference between right and wrong. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn ‘Oceans Heart’ he sings about optimistic dreams and memories, how as we age we lose sight of what we want from life, all conveyed in the simple pleasure of flying a kite and watching it dance amongst the clouds. Elsewhere on the record, ‘Story of Charms’ is about stopping to take in the little things, and appreciating the space around us, nature and trying not to get caught up in the distractions of adulthood. Solidifying the theme, ‘Daydream Echo’ builds on the words of an NYC street preacher. As he was finishing the album Kaktus had a moment of clarity and affirmation as he looked out the window of his studio, he tells us; “They were standing in the same place every day, shouting about how we’re all going to die, and how we’re going on a ride. A few weeks later, the world was in chaos. What if this New York outsider was just more advanced than us, and we’re the crazy ones?” \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEinarsson (b. 1992) has led a remarkable musical life. Born and raised in Reykjavík, he was playing as part of experimental electronic act Ghostigital at the tender age of ten. In Fufanu , he opened hometown shows for Radiohead and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The band also supported Blur in Hyde Park, and stormed the festival circuit, appearing at the likes of Primavera Sound, Rock Werchter , Musilac and Down The Rabbit Hole. Now aged 28, Kaktus is beginning a new chapter with Kick The Ladder. Having honed his understanding of songwriting , recording, and production, the LP is the culmination of his experience in contemporary classical and pop music, and bridges the two sides of his work.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"One Little Independent Records","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50465939194187,"sku":"1115280","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50465940308299,"sku":"1114990","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/b08c05c3-74dd-449a-86ca-c94778f7492d_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1727299444"},{"product_id":"factoid-happiness","title":"Factoid Happiness","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn a world saturated with misinformation and manufactured ideals of fulfilment, \u003cem\u003eFactoid Happiness\u003c\/em\u003e asks a deceptively simple question; what is it that makes us happy? The third album from Icelandic stalwart Kaktus Einarsson is out on September 18th via One Little Independent Records, and seeks its answers in community, equality, and the quiet resilience of family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcross ten tracks, Kaktus interrogates the systems that increasingly shape our emotional lives; algorithms, social media, and political polarisation. It explores how modern life dilutes attention, erodes certainty, and turns even our happiness into a commodification.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMusically, \u003cem\u003eFactoid Happiness\u003c\/em\u003e is rich and varied, moving between intimate piano-led songwriting, warm indie-rock, funk-leaning grooves, disco-inflected rhythms, and electronic textures. It reflects Kaktus’s background as a songwriter who has moved fluidly between underground experimentation and sophisticated pop. The LP also features contributions from John Grant, RAKEL, Thibault Gomez, and Jessica Winter. In an era shaped by division and distraction, \u003cem\u003eFactoid Happiness\u003c\/em\u003e argues that family (biological, chosen, romantic, or platonic) is how we stay connected and resist a in fractured world.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"One Little Independent Records","offers":[{"title":"LP - Transparent Teal","offer_id":57386627531083,"sku":"R4668-3175","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":57386627563851,"sku":"R4668-0560","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":57386627596619,"sku":"R4668-2163","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/FactoidHapp_Packshot_3000x3000_002.jpg?v=1779275381"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/kaktus-einarsson.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}