Khruangbin – A Master of Sound Alchemy

Khruangbin’s Texas-based instrumental trio Khruangbin takes eight minutes before you even hear any vocals on their sophomore album. That may seem like a long wait to hear their music, but trust us–it was worth every moment! Their name translates as either “flying engine” or “airplane”, and their masterful use of sound manipulation speaks for itself.

Soundwave blends influences from Thailand, Middle East, and Latin America into an emotive yet psychedelic soundscape. Their latest album release Con Todo El Mundo (“for all the world”) contains eight flawless instrumental tracks which encompass everything from Thai funk and Caribbean grooves to vintage psychedelic rock and Middle Eastern riffs.

Laura Lee on bass, Mark Speer on guitar and Donald Johnson on drums created their global sound by experimenting both in the studio and their spiritual home: an old barn in rural Texas countryside where cows graze as though there were an audience waiting to listen in on them – reflecting the sense of tranquility that permeates their music.

Though they began collaborating in 2009, it wasn’t until they toured with UK DJ Bonobo that the trio truly began to form. Drawing inspiration from Afghan music to Middle Eastern art history and Thai funk – among many other musical influences- they took their name from a popular Thai word as a sign that their musical passions are intricately linked.

Zane Lowe, Tom Ravenscroft, Cerys Matthews and Gideon Coe have praised the band‘s sound. Their droning instrumentals have been described as mesmerizing and dreamlike by critics such as Cerys Matthews and Gideon Coe.

Khruangbin recently collaborated with Leon Bridges, a Fort Worth R&B star. A four-song EP entitled Texas Sun was recently released by Dead Oceans featuring Bridges writing and singing all four tracks that showcase both his vocal ability while drawing out Khruangbin’s unique sound.

As part of their album release celebration, Texas Monthly hosted The Universe Smiles Upon You for an intimate live session at their offices. Opening with “Lady and Man,” their session showcased all their various tricks into an indefinable groove: airy amble leading into menacing stomps that turned into indefinable grooves before coming full circle into their signature funky coda that made this tune unforgettable. Each song expanded upon prior material from 2015 debut The Universe Smiles Upon You album.