By Fulton Bryant-Anderson and Felix Halvorson
LASR Guest Writers
In 2009, Houston power trio Khruangbin banded together with the purpose of creating a refreshing sound composed of both domestic and international influences. The main lineup comprised of hip hop drum breaks, dub based bass lines and a lyrical guitar voice.
The band draws from a wide variety of groups playing Thai funk, Jamaican dub, Middle Eastern pop and American soul. The fusion of these genres may seem farce, however, Khruangbin is an outstanding example of a globally literate sound that encourages diversity in music.
Drummer Donald “DJ” Johnson Jr. is the rhythmic foundation of Khruangbin. Johnson implements James Brown-inspired breakbeats that stem from his history in hip-hop production. Through Johnson’s use of said breakbeats, he generates musical diversity that contributes to the worldly sound of Khruangbin. Johnson displays his chops on the song Mr. White from Khruangbin’s 2015 debut album The Universe Smiles Upon You. Like clockwork, DJ paints a landscape for the band to build a diverse sonic environment.
Completing the rhythmic puzzle of Khruangbin is bassist Laura Lee. “Leezy” to the fans, she finds her music origins in dub which were guided by guitarist and friend Mark Speer. The duo of Lee and Johnson are rhythmic contradictions as the musical timing of their respective genres are different. The differing rhythms of Lee and Johnson culminate in the song August 10 from their second album Con Todo El Mundo. August 10 opens with a laid-back bass line reminiscent of Jamaican legend Robbie Shakespeare that weaves in and out of Johnson’s meticulous time-keeping. Here, Lee implements her dub and reggae background to drive the song forward as the guitarist finds a melodic counterpoint to the rhythm section.
Accenting the sonic atmosphere of Khruangbin is lead guitarist Mark Speer who serves as the creative leader of the band with his love for world music and international aesthetics. Speer draws more inspiration from vocalists rather than guitarists. This is displayed in their Thai Funk inspired track Dern Kala off their debut album. Featuring many Thai playing techniques that create fast moving angular sounds, the lead guitar in the song also serves as a vocal part. It keeps the instrumental moving while also expressing many melodic ideas through only one instrument.
A good starting point for those interested in Khruangbin is their 2015 album The Universe Smiles Upon You. Standout tracks from this album are White Gloves, Mr. White and August Twelve. To see what the band has to offer in a live environment, check out their Pitchfork Live performance from 2018. Be sure to look for their newest release Mordechai, available in record stores and on streaming platforms.
