Felix Cartal

In Felix Cartal’s hometown of Vancouver, the iconic steam clock is a well-known landmark. Every quarter hour it whistles its chimes, accompanied by clouds of vapour. A model of ingenuity and proverbially reliable. Attributes you can pin on Felix himself. Felix has racked up a string of hits, and won a JUNO Award in his native Canada in 2020, with his club-ready dance tracks and expansive electronic pop. His fourth album – Expensive Sounds For Nice People – finds the DJ, producer and songwriter displaying the duality at his music’s core. The Life, featuring Québécois duo Fjord, bounces along on a sunshine vibe and grin-inducing breakdown. But analyse the lyrics 'I used to believe that life was just a breeze/But the highs and low set me free’ and you realise things aren’t as they seem… in this case, a commentary on social media’s superficiality. Folk-tinged, dance-pop anthem, Mine (co-written with LA-born singer Sophie Simmons) is one of two singles on the album to have gone platinum in Canada. The other, Love Me (with Lights) won a JUNO for Best Dance Recording in 2020. Ironically, the two mutual fans had met at an earlier JUNO awards. Elsewhere, Felix’s ability with vocal chops lends Going Up a distinctly Discovery-era Daft Punk vibe. This album, Felix says, is like a compendium of short stories. “There are emotional songs, but it’s more carefree.” Expensive Sounds For Nice People, you’ll find, sheds its secrets and wisdom over multiple plays. -Stephen Worthy