Khruangbin is a modern psychedelic soul and funk trio from Houston, Texas, which I heard about for the first time just a few hours ago on Twitter. Someone I follow compared them to Rose City Band in terms of being able to set a mood, which is enough for me to want to check them out. The group has been active since 2009, and has released a total of 3 studio albums and 4 EPs. Their most recent studio album, Mordechai (2020), is the album I’ll be listening to tonight, and reached up to #7 on the UK charts. I’m pretty stoked to give this album a listen, so with that said, I’m going to jump on into the music.
“First Class” starts out with some interesting swishing guitar that takes on a really groovy neo-psychedelic sound that feels like a sweet combination of classic and modern psychedelic flavors. The guitar work is soon joined by a funky bass line and beat, and some soothing vocals that put the listener at ease. Oh wow, the track keeps getting funkier and psychedelic in a sweet and soulful manner. I’m reminded a little bit of the Black Pumas, and a bit of the funk stylings of Leon Thomas. Oh wow, the funk stylings in the track meld really nicely with the soulful, psychedelic swishing of the guitar work, which all keep pulling me in further. Great track, and I’m excited to hear more.
“Time (You and I)” gets grooving right away with some tight guitar work and a funky rhythm, which combine to remind me of Goose and Vulfpeck. Oh wow, I really dig the vocals, which really have a smooth, soulful, psychedelic feel and a playfulness that reminds me of MGMT’s album, Oracular Spectacular (2007). Oh wow, the funkiness and psychedelia seem to keep amplifying one another as the track continues, and pulls me even further into the music. Wow, this song is sweet. I’m already sending it to some friends of mine I think might dig the sound. Wow, great track.
Oh wow, “Connaissais de Face” begins with this really mellow island-influenced psychedelia with a bit of a funk reggae sort of rhythm section that I’m really digging. The vocals seem to be a somewhat distant conversation, as though you’re eavesdropping for a moment. Then some sweet, distant chorus vocals come on, which almost sound as though you’re listening to a church chorus from behind and across a room. The keyboards add a really sweet playfulness that remind me again of MGMT, causing me to dig the sound even more. I really dig the tinny, repetitious sound of the cowbell in the percussion. Wow, great track.
“Father Bird, Mother Bird” starts out with some really mellow, soulful psychedelic guitar set to a sort of neo-funk beat that I’m really digging, and a smooth bass line that keeps the tune grooving along. Oh wow, this track seems to be an instrumental, and it’s continually pulling me in further into the listening experience. I really dig the guitar tone in this track, which has a really inviting and almost mysterious soulful feel to it. Great tune.
“If There is No Question” starts out with a really mellow, soulful groove, with a bit of a funkiness in the groovy rhythm section of the track. The vocals have a really interesting mystique that seems to walk along a psychedelic and soulful line. The track evokes a warm, starry night sky in the Caribbean in my mind. Wow, super groovy track.
“Pelota” starts out with a really groovy segue in from the previous track, and brings out of Latin soul funk sort of feel the percussion, guitar work, and vocals that all have a sort of south-of-the-border sound that I’m really digging. Oh wow, I really dig the guitar work in this track; some of the guitar licks have a style that reminds me a bit of Jerry Garcia. Great track.
Oh wow, “One to Remember” starts out with a really groovy sound with a mixture of psychedelic soul guitar, a reggae beat, and a funky bass line. Oh wow, the sound of the reverberation in the vocals and guitar work combined with some sound effects and the island-like rhythm section almost feels as if the band is guiding you through foggy ocean waters on a mysterious psychedelic ship that set sail from the Caribbean, and is pulling me even further into the listening experience. Wow, groovy tune.
“Dearest Alfred” starts out with a really sweet snare that is soon followed by some melty guitar work and a soulful ambiance. It sounds as if the band is somehow guiding you across a stream on some sort of relaxed psychedelic voyage within your mind, and I’m really enjoying the groove. Super sweet track.
Oh wow, “So We Won’t Forget” starts out with a really upbeat, funky groove with the tight bass line and light nature of the percussion, and is soon joined by some nearly shimmering guitar work that brings in a soulful psychedelic sound that I’ve been digging throughout this album. Oh wow, some organs lightly chirp in from the background, and add some really groovy accentuations to the soundscape. Oh wow, there’s a movement in the latter half of the track that feels like a smooth, groovy, funky breakdown with the bass and drums that remind me a fair deal of Vulfpeck. Wow, great track.
Oh wow, “Shida” starts out with some really groovy guitar work that seems to have a sound resembling psychedelic ripples across a stream that reverberate with a really sweet, soulful sound, while the drums and bass combine for a groovy and funky backbeat. It almost feels as though the band is gradually tying together the album. I really dig the organs that come in and add some gentle accentuations to the soundscape with a sort of mystical, psychedelic, and soulful flavor. Wow, great tune and a great way to finish this album.
Holy smokes, this album is pretty groovy. The overall feel reminded me of the Black Pumas, Vulfpeck, Goose, and MGMT all rolled together with particular influence from the Caribbean in the Latin and reggae stylings mixed throughout. The soulful, funky, and psychedelic elements all melded together super nicely with the Latin and reggae elements, which all kept me further engrossed in the listening experience. If you enjoy neo-psychedelia, psychedelic soul, and funk or neo-funk, then you might want to consider checking out this album. If you do decide to listen to this album, I sincerely hope that you enjoy the listening experience at least as much as I did.
-A