The Universe Smiles Upon on You by Khruangbin
There is an awful lot that has already been said about Khruangbin’s debut LP, The Universe Smiles Upon You. Released in 2015 by the little-known-at-the-time Texas trio, the ten tracks presented offer a glimpse into a soothing, psychedelic comfort zone. Refreshingly unique with a timeless feel to it, the meandering guitar of Mark Speer and Laura Lee’s absolutely infectious bass ride on top of DJ Johnson’s grooves with a grace and poise seldom seen in a debut effort.
Check out Andrew Howie’s interview with Khruangbin from 2016!
As Khruangbin has come to be embraced by the music scene worldwide, their debut album still stands as a smash among music lovers of wildly disparate genres. Trey Anastasio of Phish was quoted as saying the group feels like they’re trying to find “the universal groove.” Their blend of Thai funk (‘khruangbin’ is Thai for ‘airplane’) and mellifluous, flowing psychedelia bolsters this claim perfectly.
Sounding almost like the soundtrack for a happy Tarantino movie, The Universe Smiles Upon You is a perfect record; all killer, no filler, one of the best albums of the decade. Start to finish, the album never disappoints. If you can get through it without smiling, closing your eyes, and nodding your head, you should check whether or not your soul still exists.
-Andrew Howie
