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Those two women need to sit in a coffee shop and chat crap there, all I can hear is them nattering. And that bald guys dancing ffs mate get some rhythm.
What we're seeing here is something special. Something nascent that is about to blow up. As of this writing, they just released this as a single, Mahal. I think this band will go on to huge success. Why? Intelligent, soulful songwriting, chops, an indelible image of androgynous couture and *stagecraft.* The masks remove the ego. It robs us of the bias of seeing their faces and instead concentrate on the music. (And gives them the now-rare gift of anonymity.) Chances are the same people who mock the masks say nothing about KISS or Gwar. They've masterfully presented themselves, and their carefully crafted image, over a long period forced by covid-19 while building an organic buzz through limited touring and RU-vid that carries the hallmark of a band that knows what it's doing-and what it wants. They stay true to their ethnic roots, while being open and inviting to all who want to listen. The criticisms echoing a "coat-tailing" of Khruangbin ring hollow to me. To say this is the same sound is to betray the same kind of ignorance that compares thai food to szechuan. (They couldn't be more different, if from the same continent.) I hope they DO tour together though. I love the Khru.That would be an incredible night well-worth the ticket price. I hope we never see their faces. I hope they stay a 3-piece. (Like many legendary bands.) I hope they release 20+ albums of the same, but evolving vibe. I hope they stay humble and remember that on one warm summer day, a hippie girl got up and grooved barefoot in front of the stage, mirroring what all of us kind of want to do.
I want to note on the anonymity comment. In my searching to learn everything I can about this band because I know they're going to be big, I found an interview with the main? member of the group talking about him wanting to reconnect with his heritage and bridge the musical gap there. I don't remember seeing his face in the article and I didn't search his specific name because at that point it felt like I got to what I wanted regarding Glass Beams and I didn't want to feel like I was pushing to far into the weird stalker category, I love the music don't need to be searching the members names. I don't think the masks are for that reason though, they just feel a part of the persona of luxury the whole crafted image of the band feels like.
