Certain bands have a kind of mystery to them. This kind of mystery usually flows from their music. I am not sure why but when you listen to these bands you are drawn to their sound but are uncertain. Khruangbin is one such band. They are inspired from 60’s and 70’s Thai music and their name is inspired from the same.

I heard their song Friday Morning a few weeks ago but for the past two days I have been excessively listening to all of their material. They are a three-piece instrumental band and have vocal harmonies on most of their songs. Their songs are stripped down, and in your mind it is a sort of background to whatever you are doing, but as the music progresses it takes a centre stage. Initially, I was really confused of why such stripped-down music is drawing me so much, the reason was quite simple it was the empty spaces in the song. You feel that you are a part of these empty spaces and they get you hooked.

The band doesn’t have complicated rhythm sections, it’s just the bass and drums laying down the rhythm, and the guitar playing simple lead over it. The guitar uses very little effects maybe a little reverb in most of the tracks. The drums are extremely tight and in control, there are no excessive rolls no excessive use of different percussions, most of the songs are only the hi-hat and the snare. What steals my heart is the bass in their music, it has a warm and a fat sound and is unbelievably groovy. There are few bassists out there who inspire me to play the bass again Khruangbin has been able to do so.

Listen to their live sets (At London and Pitchfork) for a great evening, you feel part of a smoky room grooving to a band that isn’t there.