“Phasor” by Helado Negro

A mesmerizing slice of subdued electronic pop

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Welcome to a new edition of the Best Music of All Time newsletter!

Today’s music pick is a mesmerizing slice of subdued electronic pop, full of evocative, soft-focus imagery.

Genre: Electronic, Pop

Label: 4AD

Release Date: February 9, 2024

Vibe: 🧘

In turbulent times where life moves faster than ever, Roberto Carlos Lange’s latest record under the banner of Helado Negro, Phasor, wants you to slow down. To contemplate. To be one with nature and your innermost intimate thoughts. Recorded in Asheville, North Carolina, following his move there, this record turns simple ideas into delicate meditations that, in some way or another, are all about indulging in worldly pleasures that genuinely matter. In his making-of short film, Lange speaks of long hikes through the Smoky Mountains and “waking up wanting to connect with the world, yourself, and the people you love.” This is music full of delicate, soft-focus imagery that, with so much anxiety about the future driving contemporary lyricism and soundscapes, serves as a calming counterpoint to recent norms.

The best example of this effect in action is the LP’s high point, “I Just Want to Wake Up With You.” In the behind-the-scenes footage, Lange is shown recording the vocals while lying on his back in the middle of a cozy home studio. Warm, diffused lighting streams through the window, giving him a glowing, ethereal look. That energy is reflected in his words, which describe the thoughts that run through one’s head when the first thing they see in the morning is their soulmate. Other highlights include the like-minded “Wish You Could Be Here.” and the dreamy “Colores Del Mar.” I’ve read some reviews where the former track and a couple of others are positioned as at least vaguely melancholy, but I don’t necessarily hear it. For me, the whole point of this record was to get to a place where negativity washes away, and you’re left with a deep sense of peace and understanding.

Or, at the very least, a welcoming place to exhale and kickstart that journey.

👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈