Bleep

The first thing that you notice about Khruangbin’s new LP Mordechai is the vocals. Previously a group who focussed largely on creating sun-drenched instrumentals from the well-worn alchemy of bass, drums and electric guitar, Mordechai sees Khruangbin’s members singing on almost every song here - a move possibly inspired by the superb Texas Sun EP that they released in collaboration with soul singer Leon Bridges earlier in 2020.

Sometimes the vocals give these tracks strong centres around which to take shape. As a result, Mordechai contains some of the liveliest and most melodious material Khruangbin have delivered to date. ‘Pelota’ and ‘So We Won’t Forget’ both bound along on buoyant beats while ‘Time (You And I)’ is funky enough to class as disco.

These groovier cuts nestle amid tracks that further Khruangbin’s case as one of the premier psych-rock bands of their generation. Much of Mordechai shimmers as if seen through a heat-haze, their delay-drenched guitars spooling out over the carefree clip of the drums and basslines which further the band’s love of dub that was emphasised by 2019’s Hasta El Cielo LP. Sometimes Khruangbin emerge with clarity from this fog - ‘Connaissais de Face’, for instance, is a sort of witty update on Serge Gainsbourg - but often the trio are content to let the vibe ride.

Mordechai is both an evolution and a grounding for Khruangbin, an album that introduces singing and new influences into their sound while also bottling their beautiful instrumental rock as well as any of their other records.