WITCHES, SPIDERS, FROGS & HOLES: DEMOS & RECORDINGS 2009-2014 (LP/SIN) | VINYL RECORD (LP)

Gatefold LP + 7" version. Witches, Spiders, Frogs & Holes contains the solo output from 2009 to 2014 of the artist known as Marcel Bontempi. Unearthed from record bins all over Europe and the dusty archives of little-known specialty labels from as far afield as Frankfurt and Beverungen to Málaga and painstakingly gathered, this is the most comprehensive collection of this twisted genius's recordings. Born Marcel Sala Kelkel sometime in the early 1970s to a German mother and a Catalan father, Marcel was encouraged by his father, an accomplished sculptor in his own right, to doodle, draw, and paint for most of his waking hours, though it wasn't long before this simply wasn't enough and the young Marcel discovered music. Soon his affair with the devil's music began. Around 1994 Marcel formed the band that would eventually become The Montesas, who have since released quite a few records and are still active at the time of this release. In 2013 and 2014 Marcel explored his own personal take on "hillbilly" and "rootsy" styles and formed another combo under the moniker Dr. Bontempi's Snake Oil Company, with releases on Squoodge Records. Throughout the years of playing or singing in bands, Marcel has recorded solo material, from rockabilly and harmonious doo-wop to R&B, taking well known classics and warping them to his own vision or borrowing an obscure hillbilly song and adding a mambo, salsa, or beat influence to the mix, making it something unique. This album showcases just a small fraction of his recordings made over the years. They cross genres and styles, some originals, some cover versions. Some from as far back as the '40s and into the '50s and '60s, all bearing the unmistakable sound and imprint of Mr. Bontempi.