Drawing similarities to the surreal indie-rock of Joywave and dark alt-R&B of Slowes, we can certainly say that Belgian band Felix Pallas are not alone in their efforts to push the pop envelope beyond the sensuous or the sweet; they make it a little bit weird and dramatic and catchy as hell, all at the same time. That’s certainly the case with previous singles ‘Rakata’, ‘Curse’ and of course now the hat-trick ‘Similarities’. Self-named as “alien synth pop,” the song begins quite innocently with dreamy, soulful vocals and an accessible groove, but once you hit 1:10, the tension begins to build. Dropping away into minimalism, a demonic voice beckons the listener, or the singer, or both with dark thoughts while the falsetto returns to obsessing over “similarities.” It’s dark and complex and yet it’s something you’d still put on the speakers for a room of your friends. Quite an achievement. - HT