Khruangbin “Friday Morning” (2018)
It’s now midnight, December 31st, 2019 in New York City / Long Island where Ω+ is, and Khruangbin’s “Friday Morning” becomes our final discovery of the decade.
I was shocked when I first heard Khruangbin‘s “August 10″ earlier this year. I thought it was another rare Seventies jazz-funk find unearthed and posted by samplists and producers. Wrong. Laura Lee, Mark Speer, and Donald Johnson Jr. had us all. It was released on their 2018 album Con Todo El Mundo that had everyone noticing. Ω+ included “August 10″ for one of its favorite finds and looked for more of the Houston trio. Now we’re here, the closer to their 2018 album. For “Friday Morning”, Khruangbin asked their dearest friends and family to send them audio messages of love and support, and have each member record their own reactions as they view them.
The results captured, along with their groovy mellowed-out sundown sound, is hands-down one of the sweetest and most amazing things seen and heard ever. It’s genuine feelings and expressions documented in real time. From the ritual of everyone sitting down and bracing themselves not knowing what to expect to their final results, it is everything. Speer may be all smiles and held up the best out of all the bandmates. But what will really get you, however, is Lee and Johnson Jr. holding themselves back until they finally melt, wiping their tears of joy from their faces. They made it. They won and they’re having their moments of success and congratulations.
Most importantly, however, it’s when you realize that we’re only here for such a short time that such pursuits big and small are at its’ most vital and all important. In a world of conflict, negativity, and competition, it’s those feelings of love, encouragement, and happiness are the ones we strive for. Family and friends won’t be around forever, therefore it’s best to experience the good as much as possible with the people you love and those who love you in return while you can. It’s what makes it all essential as ever before.