Suggested
Listening
The Universe Smiles
Upon You ʰʮʯʳ
Starting with the jazzy
opener “Mr. White”
(which sounds like it
could’ve appeared on
a Herbie Hancock record), Khruangbin’s
debut album was heavily inʀuenced by
’60s and ’70s Thai music: the sounds of
Southeast Asian rock and pop are evi-
dent on such tracks as the majestic “Dern
Kala” and the ornate “The Man Who Took
My Sunglasses.” The debut also show-
cases the group’s penchant for reʀective
subdued numbers (“White Gloves,” “Balls
and Pins”) and uptempo funk (“People
Everywhere [Still Alive]”). This hazy and
groove-˽lled record also marked the ˽rst
time Khruangbin added vocals to their
mostly instrumental repertoire.
Con Todo
El Mundo ʰʮʯʶ
Khruangbin’s second
album released three
years after The Universe
Smiles Upon You does
not suɼer the dreaded sophomore jinx.
Instead it expands the group’s previous
sound to incorporate sounds from places
like India and Iran (the standout “Maria
Tambi«n” carries a strong Middle Eastern
inʀuence). The album’s title can be traced
to Laura Lee’s grandfather. “My grandpa
would always ask me şComo me quieres"’
(şHow much do you love me’")” she once
said, “and he’d only ever accept one
response. şCon todo el mundo’ (With all
the world).” A dub version of this album
was released last year until the title of
Hasta El Cielo.
Texas Sun (with
Leon Bridges) ʰʮʰʮ
While only a collec-
tion of four songs,
Texas Sun, released
earlier this year,
beautifully pairs Khruangbin’s psyche-
delic soundscapes with Bridges’ soulful
voice. This EP evokes the feeling of the
artists’ home state not only through the
music but also through romantic and
soul-searching lyrics.
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