COBRAH - “GLUE”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 4

Pairs Well With…Haiku Hands, Jain, Sofi Tukker

Weird and wonderful, COBRAH’s ICON and follow-up track “TEA” are wild trips of experimental house and electronic pop, deeply psychedelic and performed with the jungle-like bounce. Industrial rhythms and bubbling bass melodies punctuate ICON’s title track, mysteriously introducing COBRAH’s music before turning up the funk on key track “U KNOW ME”. Performed with an unexpected melancholic tone against the thick dance production of the track, COBRAH rotates between a spaced-out speaking to hip hop breaks with measured confidence. The Swedish artist performs with a queer/fetish aesthetic and that drawn sexiness molds her sound, unique with a no-fucks-given attitude to her songwriting and performance. Even though there are elements deep and thoughtful within COBRAH’s textures and dynamics, ultimately this music is fun and rave-ready, so it’ll be a jolt to catch a SXSW set from an artist coming from a clever, personable, and explorative space. (Kevin McStravick)