Roberto Carlos Lange (a.k.a. Helado Negro) is a wearer of many hats. As a musician and producer, he's collaborated with artists including Prefuse 73, Wilco's Mikael Jorgensen, and Julianna Barwick, with whom he formed experimental pop duo OMBRE. In tandem with his recorded offerings, he's also an accomplished visual artist, whose work mixes sound with trippy, often beautiful abstract imagery.
Lange's latest work is the second installment of his Island Universe Story series of EPs titled, fittingly, Island Universe Story Two. (Lange refers to the ongoing story as a parallel continuum to his album-length releases). The track "Enters" is rare high-BPM number taken from the EP, which Lange says is vaguely inspired by the Miami bass music of his youth in Florida.
For the track's computer animated visuals — which we're premiering here — Lange gives credit to mysterious director Zircon Prince, with whom he shares a shadowy backstory filled with proto-internet communications. (When pressed about the visual similarities between their work, Lange shrugs off the implication that they are the same man). "I've never tried to cross the boundary of who this mysterious being is," said Lange via email. "But I'm happy to say him/her has always shared my mind and I hope to always share their mind."
Lange's missive also explained how he received a VHS tape from Prince in the mail that played a "video mixer inputted graphic that said ZIRCON PRINCE then it faded" and "cellular block type animated shapes and colors." As a student of altered states of mind, I used this visual guide as a companion for future journeys and almost like a rudimentary road map to all things I hoped to make and become," said Lange. Make of that what you will, but the resulting widescreen display of computer-generated psychedelia is certainly engaging. Or, in Lange's words: "The video for 'Enters' is another example of the Zircon Prince's elastic brain. Less fashion and more straight to the stem lucid living."Island Universe Story Two is available now via Asthmatic Kitty.HELADO NEGRO - LIVE WEST COAST TOUR 2013 - LAST TOUR EVER
Sun Oct 13th - Seattle, WA - Barboza / with DJ Chilly from KEXP and BAttle Ground Grammar
Mon Oct 14th - Portland, OR - Holocene / with Rap Class + Soul Ipsum
Wed Oct 16th - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg Bar/ with Cy Dune, WaterStrider and Guy Fantastico (DJ set)
Thur Oct 17th - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar / With Rafter and Pall & Drome
Wed Oct 23rd - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop / With NONONO and DJ Aaron Axelson
Sat Oct 26th - Saratoga, CA - Montalvo Arts Center (not an Helado Negro performance, this is a commissioned Choral Piece performed by 20 singers).
Helado Negro
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