This Is How You Smile
Helado Negro · 2019
40 min · 12 tracks
A tranquil blend of electronic textures and lo-fi rhythms, enriched by introspective melodies and multilingual lyricism.
Top tracks — play these first
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Please Won't Please — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its gentle instrumentation and reflective lyrics, encapsulating the themes of longing and introspection.
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Seen My Aura — With its catchy melody and layered production, this track stands out by blending upbeat rhythms with contemplative lyrics about self-discovery.
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Todo lo que me falta — This song highlights Helado Negro's ability to convey emotion through sparse arrangements, using minimalism to enhance the lyrical focus on absence and desire.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's unique sound and introspective lyrics create a distinct listening experience, though it may not have widespread recognition yet.
What we noticed
- Several songs incorporate multilingual lyrics, seamlessly shifting between English and Spanish within the same verses.
- The pacing varies significantly, with some tracks maintaining a steady rhythm while others drift into more ambient soundscapes.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- nostalgic daydreaming soundscapes
- short interludes spark curiosity
- introspective moments for solitude
- gentle rhythms for reflection
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy tracks
- prefer straightforward song structures
Where this album fits
- Career context
- This Is How You Smile is Helado Negro's fourth studio album and follows the critically acclaimed album, Private Energy, released in 2016. At this point in his career, he was gaining recognition for his unique sound that melds Latin influences with experimental pop aesthetics. The album showcases a continued exploration of identity and culture through music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Sufjan Stevens· Nils Frahm· Ólafur Arnalds
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Please Won't Please 3:03
- 2 Imagining What to Do 3:22
- 3 Echo for Camperdown Curio 1:09
- 4 Fantasma vaga 4:23
- 5 País nublado 4:32
- 6 Running 4:24
- 7 Seen My Aura 4:08
- 8 Sabana de luz 3:16
- 9 November 7 2:22
- 10 Todo lo que me falta 4:35
- 11 Two Lucky 3:53
- 12 My Name Is for My Friends 1:38
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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