Psych-funk trio Khruangbin is back with an all-new full-length album, Mordechai (via Dead Oceans) and lead single, “Pelota” did not disappoint. While sonically, the style of “Pelota” feels like quintessential Khruangbin, the band takes their tried and true formula to the next level with this song. They take sixty’s psychedelia, seventy’s funk, and today’s reverb-soaked alternative sound to make incredible music that is both instantaneously recognizable and unique.
“Pelota” is the kind of song you want to drive to, and it’s accompanying visual makes that abundantly clear. It follows a flowing pink ball traversing through a surreal environment. Starting its life as the pink sand of a desert, the ball shifts shape throughout spending most of its time as a stylized flying woman. The landscape also shifts throughout changing from desert to forest and to space. As the title, “Pelota,” translates from Spanish to mean “ball” this imagery seems only fitting for the accompanying music video.
The song’s Spanish title and lyrics help to establish an eclectic feel. When speaking about the eclecticism on this track and its music video, Khruangbin says, “a Texan band with a Thai name singing a song in Spanish, loosely based on a Japanese movie,” why not.
The video features heavily stylized imagery, which evokes both Sunday morning cartoons and nineteen sixty’s psychedelia. With its hand-drawn and cartoon aesthetic by Alvaro Sotomayor, the video’s imagery perfectly matches “Pelota’s” smooth and sultry style.
As a band whose songs are often fully instrumental, “Pelota’s” beautiful female vocals help this track to stand out. As the lead single for Mordechai, “Pelota” sees Khruangbhin stepping in a positive direction with their music. On Mordechai (released on June 26th), Khruangbin has challenged themselves to feature vocals prominently on every song. With this first for the band, they prove that they are not afraid to make changes, but also stick to the “spirit of nomadic wandering” that’s been with them since their roots.
Watch the official video for “Pelota,” directed by Hugo Rodríguez Rodríguez down below!
Make sure to check out Khruangbin on social media like Facebook and Instagram for all their latest news on new music and concerts!
