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Use music to chill



Sometimes our kids bring reality into focus with music

music, relax, Khruangbin

Recently I was sitting at my desk, trying to organize my activities for the day when I heard my phone beep. It is so easy to distract me. I received a text link with a message from Baird, my husband’s son. 
‘Morning jam keeps me calm and happy through the day.” How could I resist? I clicked the link to see what Baird thought was so important.

Baird is a talented musician who has produced a vinyl album and CDs, and he has performed in upstate venues. In the early days, I remember him performing in New York City as well as at The Chance in Poughkeepsie, NY. (Find him @clymtn on Instagram. Check out #truckerriffs Tuesdays.)

To my surprise the music was a delight. I could work. Feel good about what was going on around me, even though I am working alone in my office. And Baird was right. The music has the effect of centering me.

So, though we don’t ordinally recommend music. I wanted to introduce you to Khruangbin. In this time of pandemic craziness take a chance and enjoy the change.

The three members of Khruangbin, who hail from Texas, are the bassist Laura Lee, the guitarist Mark Speer and the electronic sound of D.J. Bonobo.  In June they released the band’s third album, “Mordechai.”  (Khruangbin is Thai for airplane or literally “engine fly.). 

A recent article, introducing the group and its new album, suggested that there is a lot riding on “Mordechai” than any of the band’s previous releases. Besides the sold-out shows and critical acclaim, Khruangbin reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart in February, after “Texas Sun,” the band’s collaborative EP with the R&B singer Leon Bridges, debuted atop the Americana/Folk Albums list.

It merges “styles of funk, soul and psychedelia but all through a Texas lens,” wrote Leon Bridges in an email. “Their minimal approach to instrumentation and production is what resonated with me when I first heard their music. It’s refreshing to see a band of their nature thrive in the music industry.”

I found Khruangbin on Pandora. Baird plays it from his Bandcamp account. Check them out. I am sure they are posted on every music platform. Baird recommends we listen to ‘One to Remember” and “Dearest Alfred” on their newest album.



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