Khruangbin Vinyl, CD & Tape

The flight route of Khruangbin

Khruangbin is the name of the grooviest discovery of the last decade. The group formed at St. John's Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, where Mark Speer met his rhythm section Laura Lee and Donald Ray "DJ" Johnson Jr. As a fresh-from-the-ground trio, they went on tour with Bonobo in 2010, who subsequently promoted the new release Calf Born in Winter on his channels and helped the bands take-off.  Khruangbin (Thai for flying machine), was honoured as "New Band of the Week" by The Guardian, resulting in support shows for Father John Misty, Tycho, Chicano Batman and Massive Attack. Performances at Glastonbury or South by Southwest Festival then catapulted them into international spheres. The “flying machine” took off in Europe with their 2018 released album Con Todo El Mundo and has been selling out halls around the world since then.

The stopovers of the flying machine

The trio is rooted in classic funk, soul and R&B, but features bits of psychedelia, dub and Thai funk, best enjoyed on vinyl. The first single Calf Born in Winter followed by the EP Infamous Bill laid the foundation for the band's characteristic sound. White Gloves promoted their first full-length album The Universe Smiles Upon You which was released on vinyl in 2015 and soon proved to be a bestseller. The iconic sound of the hit single very quickly won the hearts of many record lovers around the globe; the reason being the significant guitar sound of frontman Mark Speer, who was influenced by visionaries like Jimi Hendrix. Not only the two following albums Con Todo el Mundo and Hasta el Cielo, but the detailed drawn, psychedelic design of the covers have made the trio remarkable and unmistakable. Collaborations, such as with the infamous retro soul singer from Fort Worth, Texas, Leon Bridges, helped the band expand their fanbase in the early 2020s. Their songs are now also available as DJ remixes on vinyl that are now lining up in many record collections of electro lovers.

Inspiration of a new generation

Whether it's the mysterious straight-cut fringes that cover Lee and Speer's eyes, the psychedelic sound that reminds one a bit of Woodstock, or the trippy covers that add the finishing touch to the whole image; the group Khruangbin has captivated many listeners around the world with their unique concept. They continue their sonic adventure, with their album Ali (2022), where they collaborated with Vieux Farka Toure to pay homage to his father, Ali Farka Toure, by recreating some of his most resonant work, putting new twists on it while maintaining the original’s integrity. The result is a rightful ode to a legend whose legacy lives on through Vieux aka “the Hendrix of the Sahara,” an accomplished guitarist and legend of Malian music. Ali is a masterpiece in which the love surrounding it is just as vital as the music itself, driving it to unforeseen places; Vieux and Khruangbin are spreading the good word to a completely new generation. “I hope it takes them somewhere new, or puts them in a place they haven't felt or heard,” Lee says. “It is about the love of new friendship and making something beautiful together,” Vieux continues. “It is about pouring your love into something old to make it new again. In the end and in a word, it is love"