Khun Narin – “Chackim” (Singles Going Steady)

Emmanuel Elone: Opening with booming drums and an electric guitar solo, “Chackim” is an exotic instrumental that displays all of Khun Narin’s talent. The percussion and bass keep the song thumping at a nice tempo as the electric guitar weaves in delicate solos that rush like waves over the bass and drums below. However, though the sweet notes of the guitar shine through, an effect on the guitar does make the solo a bit grating to listen to at points. Still, that’s not enough to ruin “Chackim”, a song as relaxing and laid back as the ocean waves that roll off the coast of Thailand, the band’s home country. [7/10]

Jordan Blum: I appreciate the endearing amateur/DIY quality of it both the footage and instrumental, but it’s a bit too aimless for me. The guitar work isn’t especially intriguing or novel, and it’s mixed in too loudly, so the percussion takes too much of a backseat. It feels like a solid foundation that never adds enough extra elements to be full-bodied and gripping. [5/10]

Pryor Stroud: Launching into view with a searing electric guitar noise-jangle, “Chackim” is the latest found track from the Thai street band Khun Narin and, not unlike their previous efforts, it bursts with extemporaneity, vivid instrumentation, and a no-time-to-pause tempo. While the irrepressibly bouncy bass line seems to hop across a disintegrating pathway, the guitar play here is particularly praiseworthy; constantly shifting textures and stretching in scope, this guitar not only seems to rely on electricity for its functionality, but to radiate it — to hurl it out in dissipating spark-circles — with each razor-edged note. [7/10]

Chris Ingalls: I’m in love with this but I’m at a loss to explain it. Some sort of heavy Asian percussion mixed with surf guitar. It almost sounds like a bunch of guys formed a band but nobody discussed the instrumentation ahead of time, which results in the disjointed execution. Nevertheless, the sloppiness is one of its strengths. Lots of very catchy electric guitar, way up in the mix. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m a fan. [9/10]

Chad Miller: Nice and breezy track with a good control of texture. The rhythms that close the piece make the song go out with a bang, leaving it as a pleasant offering by Narin’s ever-shifting band. [7/10]

Khun Narin’s II is out now via Innovative Leisure.

SCORE: 7.00