10 Incredible Instrumentals That Deserve Your Attention

9. Sigur Rós - Untitled 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeuvegBZFuM Find it: ( ) (2002) If ever you needed proof that music can transcend the mightiest of language barriers, Sigur Rós is it. Up until their 2008 song 'All Alright', the band stuck firmly to singing in their native Icelandic ("Jónsi has the thickest Icelandic accent," according to their official website), as well as the odd bit of semi-gibberish they call "Hopelandic". 'Untitled 3' uses neither, relying instead on a gorgeous blend of piano and strings. The song came out over a decade before the widely-acclaimed release of their comparatively heavy seventh album Kveikur, at a time when the then-quartet were poster boys for subdued post-rock elegance. It is one of their most impressive tracks from this early period, typically unspoilt by cluttered instrumentation or overwrought production. Sigur Rós are masters when it comes to making the most of the spaces between notes, and this song is no exception. A cameo in the latest season of Game of Thrones is just one sign that language barriers haven't stopped the band from garnering a huge fanbase among English-speaking listeners. With songs like 'Untitled 3', Sigur Rós imbue a simple setup with the kind of emotional resonance that simply cannot be lost in translation.