Late Night Tales is pleased to announce its latest installment to its long-running artist-curated mix series, this time curated by Khruangbin, the trio of Laura Lee Ochoa (bass), Mark Speer (guitar), and Donald “DJ” Johnson (drums). Having first come to prominence in 2013 when producer and D.J. Bonobo included Khruangbin’s “A Calf Born in Winter” in his own collection of songs for the series, the little known Houston trio had yet to release an album, but have since gone on to become international superstars forming their own exotic, individual sound. Most recently, they released Mordechai, “a nostalgic LP that explores human memory” (The New York Times). “Late Night Tales is such a special thing to be a part of, because we wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for Bonobo’s Late Night Tales,” says Khruangbin. “Because that’s how we got into the LNT family – and got a break.”
Today, in conjunction with the announcement, Khruangbin share their horizontally brilliant cover of Kool & The Gang’s “Summer Madness,” exclusive to their mix, as is Late Night Tales tradition. Check it out below…
“‘Summer Madness’ became a staple in this medley that we play,” says Johnson. “Specifically, one of my favourite things about it is the tone of the bass, which really reminds me a lot of Laura Lee’s bass which has this chunky, peanut butter, rich tone. It was always a special moment, getting to that song because, it just did something to the room, everywhere.” Laura Lee continues: “‘Summer Madness’ was paying homage to Kool & The Gang, a band we aspire to be like and also we’ve played it a hundred times but never in full.”
