July 26, 2011

Album Review: Helado Negro - 'Canta Lechuza'

A curious and compelling mess

6 / 10 Not to judge, but if you’re still here after reading of ‘field recordings’ (‘Allanzar’), ‘Spanish mumblings’ (‘Globitos’) and ‘bubbly psychedelic meanderthons that sound like exotica popster El Guincho and sonic smartypants Arthur Russell nipping out of their minds to the moon and making love in some craters’, you’re probably the kinda cat that takes to breezily bizarre future-pop better than your average grit-pop tit-shop.

This is good, but ‘Canta Lechuza’ deflates its ambition by bleeping and whirring in every direction at once, landing in a confused heap of awkward samba jangle and rippling steel drums, a curious and compelling mess.

Jazz Monroe

Order a copy of Helado Negro's 'Canta Lechuza' from Amazon