Houston psych-funk trio Khruangbin has surprise-released The Universe Smiles Upon You II, a re-recorded version of their 2015 debut album, exactly 10 years to the day. The new project features reworked tracks and a fresh tracklist, accompanied by a music video for 'White Gloves II.' This release coincides with the start of their intimate 10th anniversary tour.
Album Details
The Universe Smiles Upon You II reimagines Khruangbin's breakthrough 2015 instrumental album, capturing the band's evolved sound after a decade. Recorded in the same Central Texas barn as the original, the trio—bassist Laura Lee Ochoa, guitarist Mark Speer, and drummer Donald 'DJ' Johnson—incorporated subtle changes, including drum loops influenced by their collaboration with Arooj Aftab and a textural approach with acoustic elements and contact mics. The tracklist opens with 'Little Joe and Mary II' and includes fan favorite 'Bin Bin II' in place of the original opener 'Mr. White,' with a new sequence curated by Ochoa.
Full tracklist:
- 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
- Zionsville II
Band Reflections
In interviews with Rolling Stone, the members shared insights into the project. 'The thought was like, ‘We’ll just do it all over again... And it will be us 10 years later with the same instruments in the same location, and it’ll be different because we’re different,'' Ochoa explained. Speer added, 'I wanted to get really textural with it... so all the squeaks and the noises and the air in the room has this dusty sound.' Johnson highlighted Houston's cultural influence: 'Houston specifically is woven into the fabric of who we are... Houston has its own unique blend of cultural flavors that meld here.'
Tour and Context
Khruangbin kicked off their 10th anniversary tour on November 5, 2025, in Houston at The Heights Theater, with shows at intimate venues like New York's Webster Hall and Los Angeles' Fonda Theatre through November 25. Their last studio album, A La Sala, arrived in 2024. The album is available on streaming platforms, with vinyl and CD pre-orders open.