There’s something about ghost songs.  When done well, they insinuate themselves deeply into our psyche.  The Psychedelic Furs’ Ghost in You, Band of Horses’ Is There A Ghost?, Bob Dylan’s Spirit On the Water, Radiohead’s Bodysnatchers, but especially The Specials’ Ghost Town–have all floated inside at times and taken us over.  The latest entry in this ghost anthology is Helado Negro’s Dance Ghost from the impending new album Invisible Life (on Asthmatic Kitty).

Helado Negro is Robert Carlos Lange, son of Ecuadoran parents who grew up in South Florida with its associated atmospherics (the Three H’s:  heat, humidity, hurricanes; but accompanied by a soundtrack of the musical and cultural coloratura of the surrounding Latin American communities).  Robert Lange has previously worked with Juliana Barwick and Bear in Heaven, and on Invisible Life members of Bear in Heaven return the favor along with Devendra Banhart.

Helado Negro has now released the official video for Dance Ghost, which you can watch/listen/download below.  About the song, Lange says: “They are ghosts to maybe most who are usually trying to create the least amount of resistance when trying to survive in the US due to the many instances of inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the US. The song may be saturated in ambiguous synth tones, but the reality of living somewhere or being somewhere where others want everything about you but you, is what haunts them.” In the video, while the smoothly-hypnotizing, steel-drummy song plays out, a man-ghost floats invisibly past and through dancers, Jai Alai matches, clubs, bars, record stores, a mansion and other stations of the (Miami) community.  In the end, the video leaves us just wanting to engage all the “ghosts” we see.  You do the same, and the world will be better for it.   Let’s just say it’s National Engage a Ghost Day.  Go forth.

You can pre-order the album and learn more HERE. If you like what you hear, you can listen to and download the song below the video.