Latest Release
- 5 APR 2024
- 12 Songs
- Mordechai · 2020
- A LA SALA · 2024
- A LA SALA · 2024
- A LA SALA · 2024
- A LA SALA · 2024
- A LA SALA · 2024
- A LA SALA · 2024
- A LA SALA · 2024
- A LA SALA · 2024
- A LA SALA · 2024
Essential Albums
- It’s a good eight minutes and most of two songs into the second album from this Houston, Texas trio before you hear any vocals, and by that point they may well be superfluous. Khruangbin (the name translates from Thai as “flying engine” or “aeroplane”, and the former feels particularly fitting) make immaculate instrumental tracks that effortlessly accommodates psychedelic rock, Thai funk, Caribbean grooves, vintage funk and Middle Eastern riffs. What makes Con Todo El Mundo (another translation, this time from Spanish: “for all the world”) so pleasurable is the way those touchstones tie together to create a singular, gratifying sound. Bassist Laura Lee deftly moves in and out of the beat, guitarist Mark Speer supplies long and supple runs, and drummer Donald “DJ” Johnson places a funk kick on the rhythm as these songs unfurl without undue stress. Like gears on a car, the three-piece can shift up into the sharp, reverb-heavy bite of “Maria También” or slow into a nocturnal, jazzy drift on “August 10”. The feel is mellow, but it’s never merely easy listening; the shifting melodies and pinpoint drum parts keep you focused on the many possibilities of this sound.
Albums
- 2024
- 2024
- 2021
- 2021
Artist Playlists
- This psychedelic swirl of worldly grooves is instantly intoxicating.
Singles & EPs
More To Hear
- The band on “A Love International.”
- Laura Lee discusses Khruangbin’s evolution with Leon Bridges.
- The artists on "B-Side."
- Laura and DJ talk through their brand new record Mordechai.
- Showcasing the Texan psych-rockers' crate digging skills.
- Zane Lowe shares new music from Khruangbin.
- Showcasing the Texan pysch-rockers crate digging skills.
More To See
About Khruangbin
Psychedelic-soul/rock trio Khruangbin initially bonded over Afghan music, Middle Eastern art history, and Thai funk—which led to their Thai-inspired name (translation: “airplane”). ∙ After touring with UK DJ Bonobo, the band made their recorded debut with the instrumental soul track “A Calf Born in Winter” on his 2013 mix album, Late Night Tales. ∙ Their hypnotic single “White Gloves” was a public-radio favorite in 2015, bringing national attention to their debut album, The Universe Smiles Upon You. ∙ In 2017, they reworked the Iranian pop song “Ma Be Ham Nemiresim” into a trippy instrumental for the multiartist charity album Philia: Artists Rise Against Islamophobia. ∙ The underground buzz for their indie-funk single “Maria También” helped 2018’s Con Todo El Mundo earn Album of the Year at BBC Radio 1’s Worldwide Awards. ∙ “Texas Sun”—the bluesy title track of the band’s 2020 EP with soul singer Leon Bridges—was a Top 20 hit on two Billboard charts: Adult Alternative Songs and Hot Rock Songs. ∙ The band introduced more vocal work into their mostly instrumental output on 2020’s Mordechai, which became a Top 10 hit in the UK, Australia, Germany, and New Zealand.
- ORIGIN
- Burton, TX, United States
- FORMED
- 2004
- GENRE
- Alternative