Cobra Fantastic are not afraid, Drop Dead show no mercy, Mariachi Las Adelitas UK cross some borders, Tiphanie Doucet feels blue, Pierre-André gets in touch with him feminine side and more in today’s submissions from Groover, a platform that connects artists with critics like me for a small fee. You can (and should) subscribe to my Tinnitist Groover Top 100 playlist HERE, or you can listen to it via the widget at the lower right of every page on this site. If you want to be in an upcoming playlist, click the link just below the widget or go HERE. But first, enjoy today’s sweet musical lineup:
Cobra Fantastic | Ghostbusters
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Jazz-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Who would have guessed that the baddest, hippest, funkiest players in all of Paris were actually members of an alien race bent on world domination? After years of honing their skills, writing sick tunes, and blending (almost) perfectly with the human population, the intrepid band of funkateers known as Cobra Fantastic are reunited at last, and Planet Earth will never be the same again. It’s a Zappa-meets-P-Funk-meets-Sun-Ra monster robot groove machine, and it’s coming for you. Their album Tales From Planet 9 entered Earth’s atmosphere in 2019. Earthlings, put on your sunglasses. And get ready for The Funkabopulation. Arranged and mixed by The Fantastic Ghostbusterson himself (alias Josiah Woodson) and performed by your favorite band of intrepid funkateers from Planet 9, this reboot of Ray Parker Jr.’s classic is just the frighteningly freaky funk that you need to send you on your spooky way this Halloween. So, when you need that dose of intergalactic funk, who you gonna call???”
Mariachi Las Adelitas UK | El Toro Relajo
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Mariachi.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Formed in London in 2013, this unique seven-piece band was born from the desire to shatter stereotypes within this traditionally male-dominated genre. Originally from Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, and the U.K., they are the only female Mariachi band in Europe! Each member is a fantastic instrumentalist, and there are no less than three lead vocalists, all with the vocal power and clarity expected from any serious mariachi band, complete with authentic Mexican outfits and instruments. The Mariachi classics are included in their repertoire, plus beautiful arrangements of well-known songs including classics in English arranged in an authentic mariachi style, which is what makes Mariachi Las Adelitas so unique and versatile. From serenading Salma Hayek at her private birthday celebration to opening for Arcade Fire at London’s Earls Court, Mariachi Las Adelitas are in demand. The band received a standing ovation at the Women’s Mariachi Festival in Los Angeles where they shared the stage with the Grammy-winning Mariachi Divas. They’ve also made special appearances at London attractions including the Victoria & Albert Museum and music institution The Roundhouse.”
Drop Dead | No Mercy
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “An album that smells of sweat, beer and cigarettes!”
Tiphanie Doucet | Painted Blue
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “French songbird Tiphanie Doucet’s dreamy and distinct vocals take you on a rustic journey through tender emotions that will lift your spirits. Fans of Norah Jones, Ingrid Michaelson and Feist will welcome her new take on this popular, folk genre into their playlists. Doucet is set to release her latest EP Painted Blue, which threads darker, more mature and haunting tones through her adored folk sound. Recorded in the Catskills and later finished in her hometown Paris, it follows on from her last album Under My Sun, which was produced by Simone Felice and David Baron. Tiphanie’s ethereal and seductive vocals shine through in the title-track single, a simple piano ballad where heartbreak is clearly evident in not only the lyrical content but the delivery. The accompanying video provides a visual expression of the evocative and sorrowful single, showcasing her dancing skills.”
Pierre-André | Surprise Sex Time
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Pierre-André, born in 1960, is a French author, composer and musician. In the ’80s, he played with Les Avions, who hit the Top 20 with the track Nuit Sauvage. After working as an entrepreneur, he realizes he missed music and returned to writing and composing. In 2019, he recorded his first album. His music is influenced by ’80s groups like Dexy’s, Kid Creole, ABC, Magazine and The The.”
Popimane | Bi Mogoya
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: World.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Coming from a family of griots musicians, Popimane finally met his instrument at 16: The Peul flute. He learned to play by ear. Inspired by the flautist Ian Anderson and others like Magic Malik and Mamady Mansaré, he wishes to bring this ancestral instrument to a more contemporary universe, developing a particularly rhythmic and percussive signature playing.”
Bambino | Kékra
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE TRANSLATED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Bambino unveils his first project Enfant Difficile. Bambino has remained the kid he was at 11 years old: Same Afro, same madness, same mocking humor. And like any toddler and dreamer, he seeks only one thing: The freedom to do what he wants and to be what he is. A true Maradona of pop, Bambino is a gifted child, addicted to his tracksuit, in love with frenzied parties and beautiful women, but also a melancholy person whom the wounds and sorrows of the past continue to haunt. On his first project, Bambino alternates sweet songs, rapped phases, intoxicating melodies, and choruses to crack the clubs.”
Deleo | Going Home
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Indie-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Founded in 2017 in Montpellier by Denis Navarro, Deleo evolves in a musical universe at the confluence of pop, folk and electro. The group is composed of Emy Eris on vocals, Denis Navarro (acoustic guitar), Nicolas Gaeremynck (electric guitar), Romain Viguier (bass/synth) and Clément Pernet (drums). With Going Home, Deleo plunge us into a multidimensional universe: Half-angel, half-demon. Going Home seems like a pure ballad. In fact, the song reveals layers like infinitely opening drawers. Over the vibrant chords of an acoustic guitar, a voice begins to sing a melancholy melody at a cosmic distance that recalls London Grammar. This track evokes the mellow sadness of autumn. As you listen and relisten, you spin endlessly against the backdrop of a sharp, haunting arpeggio that drives this song towards the softly shining stars … far away from yourself.”
Loving Backwards | Gorgeous Pulse
HOME BASE: Israel.
GENRE: Psyche-Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The Loving Backwards sound is symbolic to the style of art & communication of current times: Psychedelic rock tunes that should last eight minutes, but are compressed into three-minute musical voyages, matching the sound of then with the ears of now. Loving Backwards is an upcoming psych-rock band from Tel Aviv, the avant-garde brainchild of composer, guitarist & vocalist Or Izekson and producer, arranger & multi-instrumentalist Ziv Grinberg. Gorgeous Pulse is the first single from their upcoming debut album. It’s is a catchy, upbeat alternative-rock tune, evolving into otherworldly musical influences while maintaining a solid structure. The single is accompanied by an equally friendly yet bizarre video clip featuring an old-timer wizard in an epic-comic mystical journey to regain his magical powers.”
X.U.L. | Arrival
HOME BASE: Slovenia.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “X.U.L. is a trumpeter of a younger generation who uses music as a language. In his own way he is combining contemporary classic with elements of minimalism and experimental electronic music and trying to explore new ways of interaction between music and listeners. says X.U.L.: “Arrival is the fifth composition from my debut album Void: A Story About a Man. It’s the musical diary of a human being. Arrival was composed after reading a text by my dear friend from Austria. The song is not about revelation or finding an answer, but is a reminder of all the paths which can cross.”
Bradley Harris | Tomorrow Is Just a Few More Miles Away
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Bradley Harris is a singer-songwriter from middle Tennessee. He is the son of NSAI Hall of Fame songwriter Ted Harris. Growing up learning to write under his father, he appreciates the importance of the song itself. “I don’t expect anyone else to like a song that I don’t enjoy listening to myself. I try to write songs that I like to sing or listen to with the hope that someone else will feel the same way. This is an upbeat traveling song I wrote on a vacation with my two boys.”
Sally Ann | Hello Dear Fats
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m a Parisien-Malaysian singer and actress. I began singing before I could even speak properly. With a toy microphone and dolls, I enjoyed belting songs in my imaginary concerts. But growing up wasn’t as fun as I just made it sound. From childhood, I’ve been battling mental disorders. Singing has been the one big thing that’s kept me going. Now, armed with the experiences I’ve taken out of my battles with depression, I write songs with strong lyrics and themes that I hope to share with others who can identify. Hello Dear Fats is a quirky yet empowering song addressing body image and bulimia. Honest, daring and direct; the song unveils the ugly behind the search for that perfect body and twists it into a force to overcome self-hate.”
This Frontier Needs Heroes | South Dakota
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This Frontier Needs Heroes is the moniker of singer-songwriter Brad Lauretti, who has spent the past 10 years playing shows all over the world. Influenced by songwriters like John Prine, Billy Bragg, Kris Kristofferson and Townes Van Zandt, his timeless songs mix love, humor, and protest seamlessly to get you through the tough times. Originally from Brooklyn, Brad is now based in Nashville. This Frontier Needs Heroes has released four albums, and is currently working on a new disc with producer Johnny Irion. Says Lauretti: “South Dakota was inspired by someone from South Dakota who randomly kissed me on a night out in East Nashville, then never returned my phone calls. The love song meanders into the last verse inspired by the unfinished Crazy Horse sculpture in South Dakota: “Crazy Horse is staring at the grasslands / Deadwood, Black Hills to the Badlands / Buffalo, Wounded Knee, Black Elk Speaks / They stole the gold and traded a dust bowl.”
Bruno Heinen | Techno Tempo
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Jazz.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Currently professor of jazz piano and composition at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music, Bruno Heinen is a London-based improvising pianist, composer and educator. He has collaborated with Shabaka Hutchings (Sons of Kemet), Jean Toussaint (Jazz Messengers) and Heidi Vogel (Cinematic Orchestra), among others. He is about to release his ninth solo album. Techno Tempo is a solo piano overdub experiment exploring questions of groove, chance and fate.”
https://soundcloud.com/bruno-heinen/techno-tempo/s-MBs4rmMUC7B?ref=clipboard
Karim Naas | Stay The Night (ft. KTK)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Dance-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Karim Naas is one of the most promising electronic dance/club music producers of his generation. In 2017, he made his debuts as a professional artist and released his very first originals as well as an official remix of J Balvin’s Mi Gente which garnered millions of international streams. This year, Karim has dropped six infectious singles and eight official remixes. Stay The Night, featuring KTK, is a song about love. This new club anthem incorporates a medley of unforgettable rhymes and catchy melodies and asserts Naas’ unique style.”
Secret Treehouse | Overrated
HOME BASE: Norway.
GENRE: Indie-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Like all bands and artists, Secret Treehouse have worked hard to find the right sound, mixing electronic pop and indie together to create beautiful and dreamy music that draws you in. The indie-pop band are now releasing Overrated, their fourth single this year. The vibrant tune has a clear pop vibe, but still holds that characteristic melancholic feeling that has become familiar for Secret Treehouse. The song reflects both a struggle and a release of anger and frustration, culminating in energetic pop. The lyrics deal with the feelings you have when your inner critical voice holds you back, while others who seem to lack that inner voice (and should have had it) end up achieving more.”
Parlour Magic | Phantom West & Ville Rose
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Parlour Magic is a vintage synth-pop project from N.Y.C. producer, media artist, and composer Luc Bokor-Smith. Parlour Magic’s debut album The Fluid Neon Origami Trick will be released on Dec. 4. It was recorded in Las Vegas, Nevada in early 2020 — prior to the end of the world as we knew it — and mixed by Fab DuPont at Flux Studios in New York. The Fluid Neon Origami Trick was recorded using almost exclusively analog synthesizers, including the fabled Yamaha CS-80, Oberheim OB-XA, Roland Juno-60, and the Eminent Solina String Ensemble, among countless others.”
Terry Blade | Black Hurts
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Soul/R&B.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Singer-songwriter, Terry Blade wrote and recorded Black Hurts in response to the severe, pervasive racial injustices witnessed this year. Its message is as clear and direct as the first line of the chorus: “Just being Black is a burden.” Though rooted in social protest, the song conveys Terry’s personal experience as a person with a Black body living in the U.S. The song’s message is poignant and should resonate with many listeners. Says Blade: “Black Hurts has a chilled soulful tempo. The song is poignant and carries a compelling message likely to resonate. The song will also be featured on my upcoming album American Descendant of Slavery, which will be released in February.”
Charlie Grant | Wide Open
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “U.K. native Charlie Grant got his first break in music as a songwriter for hire, landing cuts with Melanie C, Michael Patrick Kelly, Simply Red, Robert Miles, Marco Mengoni and Leslie Clio, among others. However, the original dream of writing and releasing music as an artist in his own right kept pestering him from the back of his mind. So, pulling in favours and forming a new currency based on pints of beer owed to musician friends and studio owners, Charlie got used to recording in the dead of night and set to work on a heartfelt set of songs focused on musicianship, storytelling, and songcraft. Charlie has independently released several singles as well as the EP’s Chemistry and Astronaut. Wide Open is about how hard it can be to truly open yourself up to another person, and how great the rewards can be if you take the risk. It was recorded in a home studio in Berlin in 2019.”
Ligne Quatre | Banqueroute Sur la Banquise
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Dr. Lulu is one of the hyperactive founders of a refugee aid association by day, and a director in the evening. Pif au Mic is a charismatic bartender during the day, and a DJ at night. Koco is a disillusioned pharmacist during the day, and singer of the funk band Mother Funker in the evening. Koco and Dr. Lulu begin to rap in Rouen 10 years ago. Pif began at the same time in Brittany with the beatmaker of the band, Exil. Eventually, Ligne Quatre (Line Four) was born. Their first EP Arrêt Demandé hits platforms on Nov. 5. Banqueroute sur la Banquise is the single. The groove is sanctified.”
Martin Rott | Kinetic Theory
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Born in Ohio, to two classical violinists, Martin Rott grew up in Germany, receiving drum lessons from age six, learning piano, guitar and bass while playing in school and church bands. He has composed music for hundreds of German TV shows and award-winning films in his Berlin studio. His debut EP Circles was released in August, and his new single Kinetic Theory is a mix of electro and neo-classic influences. Martin’s music often recalls Jon Hopkins, Nils Frahm or Kiasmos.”
Juhan Ongbrian | Sail On
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Jazz Fusion.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Experimental jazz; jazz fusion; electro jazz … however you want to label it, the pioneering artists taking jazz to new audiences are some of the biggest success stories in the music industry in recent years, taking a form of music which had fallen cruelly out of fashion into something which unified people across generations, cultural backgrounds and class. Entering the arena is Juhan Ongbrian, who brings his guitar and composition skills to a life which has seen him take influence from his birthplace in Indonesia through to a prolonged stay in Singapore and Seattle, finally to his base in Los Angeles.”
