Helado Negro – Private Energy (2LP Expanded Edition)

2017’s Private Energy is an accessible and honed release from Helado Negro and successfully marries sonic experimentation into pop structures. Half in Spanish and half in English, Roberto Carlos Lange (aka Helado Negro) continues to confidently explore his identity duality as an Ecuadorian and an American in his lyrical craftsmanship. This duality is echoed in songs such as “Young Latin and Proud” and the Isaac Asimov inspired “Runaround” which draws inspiration from Asimov’s story about a robot’s inner conflict while experiencing a feedback loop. Regardless of this sense of contrast, the whole record has a super smooth and easy vibe to it.