Khruangbin Review

Once Bonobo featured their song ‘A Calf Born in Winter’ on his ‘Late Night Tales’ mix, bassist Laura Lee Ochoa and drummer Donald “DJ” Johnson of Khruangbin attracted widespread acclaim. Their debut album ‘The Universe Smiles Upon You’ showcased their diverse global influences.

Now, their latest album A La Sala takes things in a completely different direction and we caught up with them to discover more.

Origins

Khruangbin’s music speaks more eloquently than its lyrics. Comprising guitarist Mark Speer, bassist Laura Lee Ochoa and drummer Donald “DJ” Johnson from Houston-based trio Khruangbin draws upon global influences to craft chill instrumentals that are simultaneously ancient and contemporary.

Industry convention would lead one to believe that Khruangbin would achieve cult status quickly; yet that hasn’t happened. Since their debut EP ‘A Calf Born in Winter’ made its way onto Bonobo’s Late Night Tales offshoot in 2014, Khruangbin have transitioned from relative obscurity into festival mainstays and international touring acts.

Con Todo El Mundo, their 2018 sophomore album, is an organic extension of their sound and ethos. Comprised of 12 tracks curated from ideas first recorded as spontaneous recordings during soundchecks or long voyages (voice memos or absentminded epiphanies), then refined further for studio use, this music offers expansive yet mystical listening ideal for cloud gazing or creative retreats.

Influences

Instrumental music speaks more powerfully than words can, conveying more emotional depth through each bass note or drumstick clench. Houston-based trio Khruangbin was formed early on with global influences drawn from Thai funk and gospel from the 60s; hence their name “Khruangbin”, meaning “airplane”, reflecting their signature palette of sounds from across cultures and timezones.

With DJ Johnson on drums and Laura Lee Ochoa on bass, this Texas duo assembled their repertoire in a barn outside Burton with an openness that enabled recording with freedom and an expansive feel. Mordechai (2020 LP), Leon Bridges EPs with Country R&B Soul tones mixed well together while collaborations with Malian musician Vieux Farka Toure (VFT) and UK DJ Quantic further broadened its horizons.

The band‘s approach to musical synthesis is founded in cultural appreciation and openness, according to DJ. He elaborates: “when working on new stuff we listen to everything so we have lots of styles from which to draw.” This style of listening and improvisation results in albums which sound as though they were spontaneously composed through their entirety, paying homage to jazz’s open-ended spontaneity and fluidity.

Techniques

Khruangbin have earned themselves a loyal fanbase that have elevated them to indie-great status, thanks to their tailored neo-nostalgia music that is both intimate and engaging – its soothing tunes can often be heard as background noise at buzzy restaurants or dorm room speakers during long road trips. But Khruangbin, which translates into Thai as “airplane”, have not rest on their laurels; even though originally formed as instrumental ensemble, their fourth studio album A La Sala marks their return to vocals – both qualities have not gone unchanged!

After releasing several live albums showcasing their improvisational abilities and collaborative albums with Leon Bridges and Malian singer Vieux Farka Toure, A La Sala marked a return to form for the band.

The record is a minimalist exercise in sonic landscapes that offers an enthralling journey through doors of sound. Music enthusiasts with deep musical knowledge may spot influences here and there; for those less-informed listeners it simply serves as an enjoyable collection of sounds that evoke emotions.

Live Shows

Khruangbin’s music seems tailor-made for sipping chilled beverages with friends while watching the sunset on a beach, relaxing together while keeping up a certain psychedelic urgency. Their ability to combine multiple influences from various musical genres is unsurpassed.

Though their aesthetics vary considerably, the Houston trio presents an identifiable sound on stage. Their live shows showcase both their improvisational skills and signature set lists.

The group frequently alters and expands older tracks to fit their live setting. Recently, for example, they performed “First Class” for over eight minutes to showcase guitarist Jeff Speer and closed with an extended version of “Zionsville,” from their 2015 debut album – their final note seemed to welcome listeners into their home as it is also evident on A La Sala; their latest LP which marks a return to subtly after years of experimentation with different styles and collaborations such as Vieux Farka Toure and Leon Bridges among many others.