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\n\tFew artists blend the organic with the electronic as seamlessly and thoughtfully as Roberto Carlos Lange, known by his stage name Helado Negro<\/a>. With his ninth studio album, Phasor<\/em>, the Ecuadorian-American singer\/producer embarks on a journey that transcends the boundaries of sound, technology, and nature. This voyage is underscored by an unexpected triad: the majestic Smoky Mountains, the humble mushroom, and a supercomputer. <\/p>\n \n\tFollowing the success of Far In<\/em>, which peaked at No. 85 on Billboard<\/em>\u2018s Top Album Sales<\/a> chart in November 2021, Phasor<\/em> emerges as a culmination of the creative\u2019s evolving musical style and thematic exploration, from the drum and bass-leaning This Is How You Smile <\/em>(2019) to the quarantine reflections of Far In<\/em>.<\/p>\n \n\tPhasor <\/em>defies easy categorization \u2014 a trait Lange himself acknowledges. \u201cThe main story can be so elusive,\u201d he muses. \u201cThere\u2019s intention, but there\u2019s also obscurity and literal meanings.\u201d This openness sets the stage for an album rich in multifaceted themes, from introspection and personal connection to profound engagements with the natural world.<\/p>\n \n\tThe Florida-bred musician\u2019s move from Brooklyn to Asheville, North Carolina, marked a significant shift in his creative landscape. \u201cMy connection was water, the beach and mostly city life,\u201d Lange remembers about his upbringing, and evinced in \u201cColores del Mar.\u201d<\/a> The Smoky Mountains\u2019 breathtaking beauty and tranquility offered a stark contrast to the urban environments he had previously inhabited. \u201cThe mountains are really spectacular. They surround you, going hiking, having all these views and being able to see so much. It really affected me,\u201d the singer mentions, where the serene and the sublime merge, as his \u201cmountainous muses.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tAhead of Phasor<\/em>\u2018s release, Lange piqued interest with a social media post on X displaying a collection of magic mushrooms, suggesting they played a role in the album\u2019s creation. \u201cThis album was on heavy rotation while making my new album,\u201d he wrote<\/a>. While playful, this isn\u2019t far from the truth: The album embodies a psychedelic exploration not just in sound but in spirit (listen to the exploratory sounds of \u201cOut There\u201d and \u201cEcho Tricks Me\u201d), drawing parallels between the mind-expanding journey of psychedelics and the boundless possibilities of musical exploration.<\/p>\n\n\t\tEchoes of the Smoky Mountains<\/strong>\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tFrom Fungi to Frequencies<\/strong>\t<\/h2>\n