Khruangbin - The Universe Smiles Upon You II. LP [White Vinyl]

Khruangbin - The Universe Smiles Upon You II. LP [White Vinyl]

Anniversary albums have become totally normal and almost expected within today's musical landscape, like the encore it feels like an assumed experience nowadays. The second and album turns a significant age; it gets all the bells and whistles and it is repackaged for the new age. Now for Texas trio and purveyors of silky modern funk, groove centric rnb and soul music Khruangbin, just merely celebrating 10 years of their debut ‘The Universe Smiles Upon You’ was not going to be enough. The Band weren’t happy with adding in any off cuts or b sides simply for the sake of it, it just didn’t feel quite right.

Mulling over what to do the band begin discussions within their central Texas barn in which they record all their music and a “eureka” moment of sorts occurred.. “Why not just re-record it all?”. Which is a bold idea to say the least, but one that makes total sense. Within those 10 years they’ve changed as people and musicians, why not hold up a mirror to where it all began but see a totally new image? Now sequenced in a way that makes sense for the trio in 2025 Khruangbin’s ‘The Universe Smiles Upon You II’ achieves what very few other anniversary albums do, it gently reminds you of why you fell in love with it to begin with but reshapes the whole listening experience into something bold, interesting, compelling and otherworldly for fresh ears.

What we’re left with is an album that feels oddly familiar but wastes no time in breaking new ground, be that the now 7 minute rendition of “Two Fish & An Elephant” or the space heavy and almost dub-eque echo drenched controlled chaos of mega hit “People Everywhere” also given the extended treatment, it almost feels like time stands still while you witness them re-contextualise these songs within the same space they were initially created in albeit with a slight facelift. ‘The Universe Smiles Upon You II’ is a required listening experience and a fitting celebratory experience for an album that means so much to so many people across the world.

For fans of Leon Bridges, Thee Sacred Souls & Connan Mockasin