After Canta Lechuza's spacy experiments, it seemed like anything was possible for
Helado Negro's third album. So it comes as something of a surprise -- though not an unpleasant one -- that
Roberto Carlos Lange returns to the subversively tropical-sounding territory of Awe Owe for much of
Invisible Life. Not that these songs are a rehash of where he's been before; instead, he expands on his debut's warmth and sensuality with tracks like "Arboles," which bounces along with a sunny, unhurried charm. Some of Canta Lechuza's fascination with old-school electronics creeps into two of the album's more expansive showcases for
Lange's music: "Lentamente" lets bubbly tones ricochet off each other as the song rolls out over the course of six minutes, while "Junes" anchors its breezy sounds with a more propulsive, dance-inspired beat. Perhaps
Invisible Life's biggest development is that
Lange sings in English for about half of the album, which suits some of the more pop-oriented tracks here. "U Heard" evokes
TV on the Radio's soulful electro-rock ballads, although its weightless feel is all
Lange. "Catastrophe" proves that he can do concise synth pop as well as his more expected reveries, but it's the hypnotic pull of even his simplest songs, like the lonely and lovely "Dance Ghost," that makes his music special.
Invisible Life reaffirms that
Lange can keep that quality, regardless of which direction he takes
Helado Negro in next. ~ Heather Phares