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Some records work as a mood more than a collection of songs. Put on Khruangbin's Con Todo El Mundo and the room changes: the bass gets deep and melodic, the guitar starts drifting somewhere far away and the drums sit right in the pocket. It is the album that turned a Texas trio into one of the most recognizable sounds in modern instrumental soul, and it remains one of the best records to own on vinyl. Here is what it is, why it holds up and where to buy a copy.
What it is
Con Todo El Mundo is the second album by Khruangbin, released on January 26, 2018 through Dead Oceans. The band is a trio: Laura Lee on bass, Mark Speer on guitar and Donald "DJ" Johnson on drums. The label describes them as a globetrotting Texan trio, and that wanderlust is all over the record.
It has 10 tracks:
- Cómo Me Quieres
- Lady and Man
- Maria También
- August 10
- Cómo Te Quiero
- Shades of Man
- Evan Finds the Third Room
- A Hymn
- Rules
- Friday Morning
The sound
Khruangbin's 2015 debut, The Universe Smiles Upon You, drew on 1960s and 1970s Thai cassettes and compilations of Southeast Asian pop, rock and funk. For Con Todo El Mundo, according to Dead Oceans, the band hopped east over India and took inspiration from similarly underdiscovered funk and soul sounds of the Middle East, particularly from Iran.
You hear it in the melodies more than in any single instrument. Speer's guitar lines bend and circle in ways that feel closer to a singer than a lead guitarist, while Lee's bass carries as much of the tune as it does the groove. Johnson keeps everything steady and unhurried, which is what lets the other two roam. The label sums it up as Lee's melodic low end, Speer's lyrical, free role guitar and DJ's ever steady backbeat forming something greater than their parts. There are vocals here and there, mostly sparse and atmospheric, but the band is happy to let the instruments do the talking.
Highlights include "Maria También," a fast, sinuous tune with a hook that sticks for days, and "Evan Finds the Third Room," which leans into a more dance floor friendly groove. "August 10" and "A Hymn" show the slower, more meditative side of the band, and "Friday Morning" closes the record with a gentle, almost sunlit calm.
Where the title comes from
The album title has a sweet backstory. Laura Lee explained to the label that her grandfather would always ask her, "Cómo me quieres?", meaning how much do you love me, and he would only ever accept one response: "Con todo el mundo," with all the world. The record's opening and middle tracks, "Cómo Me Quieres" and "Cómo Te Quiero," nod directly to that exchange.
Why it is cool
Con Todo El Mundo is the rare record that works for close listening and for background at the same time. It sounds great at a dinner party, on a long drive or on a Sunday morning, but if you sit down with headphones you start noticing how much detail is packed into the interplay between bass and guitar. It is also a gateway record. Many listeners who come for Khruangbin end up digging into the Middle Eastern funk and soul and the Thai music the band draws from, which is exactly the kind of crate digging the band itself does.
On vinyl, the warm, roomy production makes a lot of sense. This is music made by three people playing together, and it rewards a good turntable and speakers. If you are building a setup, our guide to the best phono preamps for beginners covers one of the most overlooked parts of the chain.
Who should buy it
Buy Con Todo El Mundo if you like instrumental funk and soul, psychedelic guitar or the warm, laid back side of crate digging records. It is also a good pick for anyone who wants a record that suits almost any room and any time of day. If you already love it, Khruangbin's debut The Universe Smiles Upon You is the natural next step, with its Thai influences front and center.
Where to buy
The album is available on vinyl and compact disc from Dead Oceans and from record stores.
For more from the label, read our Dead Oceans starter guide and our list of gifts for vinyl collectors. For more records worth owning, browse our vinyl picks.
