KVL is a trio formed by bassist Matthew Lux, drummer Quin Kirchner and keyboardist Daniel Van Duerm. Volume 2 is their second LP under Astral Spirits. They call it whatever-you-want-jazz.
Their brand of abstract vibe owes partially to Isotope 271, from which Lux was the bassist. Their warmer than Tortoise sound is an American mid-west brew of jazz, rock, funk and electronica. But unlike the drumming of John Herndon and Dan Bitney (both played in Tortoise), Kirchner's touch is more rhythmic, jazzy at times and invariably abstract.
In terms of progressiveness, Thrill Jockey and International Anthem from Chicago, and Astral Spirits from Austin remain at the forefront in America. West coast is on a hip hop / R&B inflected trajectory while the east coast seems to be dwelling on the more traditional discourse. With a new administration dialing the politics to the right, we remain optimistic on what we expect to hear from the heartland.