Khruangbin – The Universe Smiles Upon You ii [2 White LPs]

Description

Khruangbin returned to their spiritual home to create The Universe Smiles Upon You ii, a complete reimagining of their debut album. The Houston trio shivered in the Central Texas barn where they’ve recorded almost all of their music, the same location where they captured the original album a decade earlier. Laura Lee Ochoa on bass, Mark Speer on guitar, and Donald “DJ” Johnson on drums approached these 10 tracks not as nostalgic recreations but as reflections of who they’ve become after a decade of relentless touring and recording. The band was initially unsure how they wanted to mark the occasion but decided to record it all over again with the same instruments in the same location, knowing it would be different because they’re different. The result captures Khruangbin at their most contemplative, revisiting the Thai funk-inspired psychedelic rock that established their signature sound while incorporating the textural sophistication they’ve developed through subsequent albums.

The tracklist includes “Little Joe and Mary ii,” “Balls and Pins ii,” “White Gloves ii,” “The Man Who Took My Sunglasses ii,” “People Everywhere ii,” “Bin Bin ii,” “August Twelve ii,” “Dern Kala ii,” “Two Fish and an Elephant ii,” and “Zionsville ii.” Speer wanted to get textural with the recordings, approaching it from an ASMR standpoint, using contact mics to capture squeaks, noises, and the dusty air in the room. Influenced by their work with Arooj Aftab, the band also added drum loops to several tracks, creating layers that weren’t present in the original versions. Each reimagined song carries the weight of a decade’s evolution while maintaining the meditative quality that defined their debut.

This limited edition white vinyl pressing features the album across two LPs, housed in a gatefold jacket. The gatefold features uncoated reverse board with a printed inner sleeve that includes photos from the album recording sessions and an interview about the recording process. The double LP format allows the music room to breathe across four sides, while the white vinyl adds visual distinction to this anniversary project. This limited pressing documents a band’s journey back to their origins, discovering how much has changed and what remains constant in their approach to creating hypnotic, globe-spanning psychedelic music.

• Format: White Vinyl 2 LP
• Standout tracks: “People Everywhere ii,” “White Gloves ii,” “August Twelve ii,” “Two Fish and an Elephant ii”
• Pressing details: Limited Edition, Gatefold jacket, Printed inner sleeve with photos and interview, mostly instrumental
• Genre/style: Psychedelic Rock, Psychedelic Funk, Surf Rock, World Fusion
• UPC: 656605168333

The Universe Smiles Upon You ii proves that Khruangbin’s genius lies not just in their original vision but in their ability to continually reimagine and refine it. This limited white vinyl edition captures a band in conversation with their past, creating something both familiar and entirely new.

* The Spotify track list may not exactly represent the tracks and audio of this LP edition.

Track List:

Side A:

1. Little Joe And Mary ii
2. Balls And Pins ii
3. White Gloves ii

Side B:

1. The Man Who Took My Sunglasses ii
2. People Everywhere ii

Side C:

1. Bin Bin ii
2. August Twelve ii
3. Dern Kala ii

Side D:

1. Two Fish And An Elephant ii
2. Zionsville ii