Album Review: Khruangbin Have Reached Their Apex with New Eclectic Psych-Rock Album ‘A LA SALA’

Khruangbin, hot off their staggering Coachella performance and currently in the thick of a lengthy North American/European tour that includes a stop at the Hollywood Bowl on Aug. 10 and 11, is having a renaissance. Between their 2020 album Mordechai and the recently released A LA SALA, the Texas trio experienced a sudden surge in popularity that took them from a respected psychedelic band to an international phenomenon getting better and better.

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On A LA SALA, Khruangbin forms a bridge between their many eclectic worlds for what might be their most cohesive project yet, keeping an umbilical cord to their psych-rock beginnings.

Unsurprisingly, the airy atmosphere throughout the album highlights Khruangbin’s strong suit in crafting unique ambiances with pulsating grooves and swirling instrumentation. “Pon Pón” fully embodies all that makes Khruangbin special, letting the sun shine through the hypnotic bass taking the place of vocals. While there are some scattered whispers, the instruments do most of the talking, especially the guitar, which has the same warmth as a star expanding before exploding.

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In similar spirits, “Hold Me Up (Thank You)” features drums that are both bouncy and crunchy. The subtle vocal inflections underlining the production give the track a kinetic energy. The song keeps getting bigger despite utilizing the same instruments for much of the runtime. As the song progresses, everything becomes more lively, making for the perfect soundtrack to a dance party in the summertime.

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The previously released “May Ninth” flourishes in a more intimate environment, allowing the softly sung duet to coast atop the lush guitar. Where “Hold Me Up (Thank You) uses what’s around the trio to expand and create what sounds like an entire psych-rock opera, “May Ninth” uses the trio’s minimal resources to its advantage. The result is a private island of a song perfect for romantics or individuals looking to enjoy leisure by a body of water.

Aside from longtime engineer and close collaborator Steve Christensen, the band made A LA SALA entirely on their own. Whereas some bands might swing big upon breaking through and reaching a much wider audience, Khruangbin knows what soundscapes work best for them. Rather than alienating diehards and new fans alike, they play to their strengths, offering what might end up becoming the definitive Khruangbin album.

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Words: David Sosa

A LA SALA by Khruangbin is out now on all streaming services. For more on their new album and tour dates, including an LA date at the Hollywood Bowl on Aug. 10 and 11. Follow Khruangbin on Instagram and their website.

NORTH AMERICAN/EUROPEAN TOUR DATES

4/14/24  – Coachella – Indio, CA
4/16/24 – The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park – San Diego, CA*
4/18/24 – Alex Madonna Expo Center – San Luis Obispo, CA*
4/19/24 – Alex Madonna Expo Center – San Luis Obispo, CA*
4/21/24 – Coachella – Indio, CA
4/23/24 – Brooklyn Bowl – Las Vegas, NV *
4/24/24 – Brooklyn Bowl – Las Vegas, NV *
4/26/24 – Revel – Albuquerque, NM *
4/27/24 – Revel – Albuquerque, NM *
5/21/24  – The Met – Philadelphia, PA ^
5/22/24  – The Met – Philadelphia, PA ^
5/23/24 – The Met – Philadelphia, PA ^
5/25/24 – Boston Calling – Boston, MA
5/26/24 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, NY ^
5/28/24 – Rockin’ at the Buffalo AKG – Buffalo, NY ^
5/29/24 – Jacobs Pavillion – Cleveland, OH ^
5/31/24 – History – Toronto, ON ^
6/1/24 – History – Toronto, ON ^
6/2/24  – History – Toronto, ON ^
6/4/24 – The Masonic Temple Theatre – Detroit, MI ^
6/5/24 – KEMBA Live! – Columbus, OH ^
6/7/24 – The Salt Shed – Chicago, IL ^
6/8/24 – The Salt Shed – Chicago, IL ^
6/9/24 – The Salt Shed – Chicago, IL ^
6/11/24 – Red Hat Amphitheater – Raleigh, NC ^
6/12/24 – ExploreAsheville.com Arena – Asheville, NC ^
6/14/24 – Bonnaroo – Manchester, TN
7/4/24 – Roskilde Festival – Roskilde, Denmark
7/6/24 – Rock Werchter – Werchter, Belgium
7/7/24 – Down The Rabbit Hole – Ewijk, The Netherlands
7/10/24 – Jardin Sonore – Vitrolles, France
7/11/24 – Musilac – Aix-les-Bains, France
7/12/24 – BILBAO BBK LIVE – Bilbao, Spain
7/13/24 – Nos Alive Festival – Lisbon, Portugal
7/16/24 – Zagreb SRC Salata – Zagreb, Croatia
7/17/24 – METAStadt Open Air – Vienna, Austria
7/18/24 – Colours of Ostrava – Ostrava, Czech Republic
7/20/24 – Electric Castle – Bontida, Romania
7/23/24 – Paléo Festival – Nyon, Switzerland
7/24/24 – Luzern Live Festival – Lucerne, Switzerland
7/26/24 – Latitude Festival – Suffolk, UK 

8/14/24 – Greek Theatre – Berkeley, CA %
8/15/24 – Greek Theatre – Berkeley, CA %
8/16/24 – Greek Theatre – Berkeley, CA %
8/18/24 – Edgefield – Troutdale, OR %
8/19/24 – Edgefield – Troutdale, OR %
8/21/24 – Kettlehouse Amphitheater – Bonner, MT %
8/22/24 – Kettlehouse Amphitheater – Bonner, MT %
8/24/24 – Granary Live – Salt Lake City, UT %
8/26/24 – Mission Ballroom – Denver, CO %
8/27/24 – Red Rocks – Morrison, CO %
8/28/24 – Red Rocks – Morrison, CO %
9/20/24 – Forest Hills Stadium – New York, NY +
9/21/24 – Forest Hills Stadium – New York, NY +
9/23/24 – The Anthem – Washington, DC $
9/24/24 – The Anthem – Washington, DC $
10/2/24 – The Factory – St.Louis, MO $
10/3/24 – The Factory – St.Louis, MO $
10/9/24 – Saenger Theatre – New Orleans, LA $
10/10/24 – Saenger Theatre – New Orleans, LA $
10/31/24 – AFAS Live – Amsterdam, The Netherlands %
11/1/24 – AFAS Live – Amsterdam, The Netherlands %
11/2/24 – Lotto Arena – Antwerp, Belgium %
11/4/24 – L’Olympia – Paris, France %
11/5/24 – L’Olympia – Paris, France %
11/7/24 – Tempodrom – Berlin, Germany %
11/8/24 – Tempodrom – Berlin, Germany %
11/11/24 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz %
11/12/24 – Halle 622 – Zurich, Switzerland %
11/15/24 – OVO Hydro – Glasgow, UK %
11/17/24 – o2 Apollo – Manchester, UK %
11/18/24 – o2 Apollo – Manchester, UK %
11/20/24 – Eventim Apollo – London, UK %
11/21/24 – Eventim Apollo – London, UK %
11/22/24 – Eventim Apollo – London, UK %
11/24/24 – 3Arena – Dublin, Ireland %

* w/ Hermanos Gutiérrez
^ w/ John Carroll Kirby
% w/ Peter Cat Recording Co. 
+ w/ Men I Trust
$ w/ Arooj Aftab