Khruangbin

Mordechai

Ethereal, nomadic grooves from Texan trio

We live in an amazingly rich time for absorbing all kinds of music from around the world. Yet few bands bring so many disparate elements together in such a beguiling and coherent form as Texas trio Khruangbin. For newcomers to their sound, there are glittering fragments of so many good things in their work, from The Shadows to Roy Ayers to Ali Farka Touré (told you it was a heady cocktail). And yet despite the disparate nature of their influences, they are one of the tightest yet grooviest outfits working today, their sound totally coherent and effortless to listen to.

Their latest, Mordechai, is their most ambitious record to date, adding more of superb bassist Laura Lee’s vocals to the mix on the one hand, while guitarist Mark Speer’s flowing, eclectic playing roams further across continents of musical influences than ever. The record was inspired, we’re told, by a spiritual epiphany Laura Lee had while on a hike with a family she had never met before. Certainly there’s an ethereal soulfulness to even the most direct, danceable numbers such as Time (You And I), while So We Won’t Forget sees Speer channel Malian guitar styles to shimmering, flowing effect. His breadth of vocabulary is tremendous, but he always wears his musical erudition lightly – while drummer DJ Johnson pins everything down with irresistible grooves that are economical yet so compulsive. Dearest Alfred sees the band wander through dreamlike, sunlit soul‑terrain, washed by gentle waves of phaser tone. Like a gemstone, turn this album in the light and there are so many facets to it, you’ll want to listen and relisten to enjoy them all.

Standout track: Dearest Alfred

For fans of: Roy Ayers, Curtis Mayfield, Shuggie Otis