“Texan thai-funk” trio Khruangbin build an empire of swirling psych on “Balls And Pins” [Premiere]

Founded in the Texas hill country and currently splitting time (and members) between London and Houston, the rising three-piece have mined decades of long-forgotten Thai funk, '60s psychedelia, and surf rock to craft a signature sound as eclectic as the path they’ve travelled to get here. On “Balls and Pins”, that sound is prominently on display. The bass slinks around kaleidoscopic arpeggios, subtly building tension even as it builds a groove; that tension is further amplified when the vocals (this is the first Khruangbin LP to feature vocals) kick in. Although they’re performed by two of the band’s members singing in duet, it’s impossible to tell where one voice ends and another begins. Khruangbin have created another sea of sound that’s lovely to get lost in. The band says: “We wanted to write about a subject that bonded us when we first met. This song is about the building of an empire, and it being swallowed up by the sand.”
The Universe Smiles Upon You is set for release 6 November. You can pre-order via iTunes or LateNightTales. You can also catch Khruangbin at their first UK live dates below. October

23 - The London Funk And Soul Club at Electric Ballroom, London 24 - Simple Things Festival, Bristol 29 - Alfie Birds, Birmingham 30 - Instore and Record Release party with Sister Ray at The Ace Hotel, London