In Review: Helado Negro – Awe Owe
When discussing the myriad contributors to Roberto Carlos Lange’s first album as Helado Negro, the press release reads, “Collectively all these people are Helado Negro but the group changes form with each new day.” Although each track on Helado Negro implies an entirely new idea, they too collectively become the message behind Helado Negro. And, despite their varied sound, they consistently encourage the same thing.
The album begins with the bouncey ‘Venceremos’, which not only evokes memories of running through the park with your best buddy in its music, but also encourages you to relive those memories in its lyrics. Its title implies triumph, but the music itself suggests letting loose, dancing and forgetting. This feeling the first track leaves you with is maintained throughout Awe Owe. The stuttering ‘Dahum’ and pulsing ‘I Wish’ both provide the perfect soundtrack to nearly any summer activity. In fact, many of the tracks on Awe Owe directly suggest you listen outside, on beaches (‘Playas’), or anywhere you can take in and “Save the sun” (‘Ver a Ver’). Sure, if you were to put this on at your barbeque, it might not be as suitable as Kid Sister’s ‘Family Reunion‘ (namely because Awe Owe is sung almost entirely in spanish). What Awe Owe does certainly provide, however, is the perfect pitch and pace for a mid-day margarita, or even a morning cup of coffee while camping. It is literally exactly what you would expect the couple in those Corona ads to be listening to.
Even in a year with such strong contenders for album of the decade, songs that ooze perfection like ‘Espuma Negra’ and ‘Awe’ demand repeat after repeat. When the album slows down, it still manages to maintain it’s ethereal feel, because as much as we like to spend our winters looking forward to summer, most of us can’t truly spend 100 days partying. Helado Negro want you to have fun this summer, be it dancing, cooking, or relaxing; and they’ve crafted the perfect record to do it to in Awe Owe.
Download ‘Deja’ above, and grab the album from the consistently impressive Asthmatic Kitty label.
