Khruangbin – The Universe Smiles Upon You II

Khruangbin – THE UNIVERSE SMILES UPON YOU II is a 2025 CD release on Dead Oceans, revisiting the world that the Houston trio built with their debut full-length and presenting it in a new form for listeners who want to go deeper into that original vision.

Khruangbin and the Sound That Started It All

Khruangbin, the Houston-based trio of Laura Lee, Mark Speer, and Donald Ray “DJ” Johnson Jr., built their reputation on a distinctly internationalist approach to groove music. Their debut full-length, The Universe Smiles Upon You, drew from Thai funk, dub, psychedelia, and soul in a way that felt genuinely studied rather than casually borrowed. The band spent years developing their sound in a barn in Burton, Texas, and that patience shows in the music. Speer’s guitar work is heavily influenced by Thai pop and surf, Lee’s bass lines carry the rhythmic weight, and Johnson’s drumming sits low and purposeful in the mix. They are a band that rewards close listening, and their debut record remains the clearest statement of where they came from.

What Makes Khruangbin – THE UNIVERSE SMILES UPON YOU II Worth Your Attention

This release is framed as a companion or continuation to that debut, arriving in 2025 through Dead Oceans, the label that has also been home to artists like Mitski and Phoebe Bridgers. Dead Oceans has a track record of handling their catalogue releases with care, and the framing of this as a sequel or extension suggests it offers something distinct from a straight reissue. Whether that means alternate versions, unreleased material, or a resequenced perspective on the original sessions, the intent is clearly to add to the conversation rather than simply repeat it. For anyone who came to Khruangbin through their later work and has been working backwards, this is a meaningful release to have in hand.

Format and Label Details

This is a CD release on Dead Oceans, catalogue details to be confirmed. It ships in 2025. For collectors who maintain physical media libraries across formats, or who prefer CD for a specific listening context, this is the edition to go with. Dead Oceans has been a consistent home for Khruangbin’s catalogue in North America, and releases through them carry the label’s usual attention to packaging and presentation. If the debut meant something to you the first time around, this follow-up deserves a place next to it.