Helado Negro

Roberto Carlos Lange is a Florida native transplanted to NYC, but the roots of his music dig deeper into his ancestral South American heritage. Traces of Os Mutantes and Antonio Carlos Jobim have slipped the Brazilian borders and entered his Ecuadorian bloodstream. That '60s and '70s pulse is here, wrapped in loops that transport rather than sublimate the vibe's authenticity. Lange brings the spirit of collaboration from time spent working with Guillermo S. Herren (Prefuse 73), allowing his guests to quietly breathe life into these tracks. The sound favours the cool samba and slowly meandering woodwinds over more frenetic Tropicália, though massed hand drums and loops on tracks like "Awe" stir the passions. Mostly, Awe Owe has a gentle, wistful feel propelled by undeniable rhythms. Lange's band name translates to "Black Ice Cream," and his music's sweet darkness suits that well.