[2026] Recommended Western instrumental bands: Popular overseas bands

DangerousSurprise Chef

Surprise Chef – Dangerous

Surprise Chef from Melbourne are a distinctive five-piece in the instrumental scene.

Formed at the end of 2017, they established a cinematic playing style and drew attention with their 2020 album “All News Is Good News.” Influenced by ’70s film music and hip-hop, their sound—often described as “moody instrumental jazz-funk”—carries a unique atmosphere that invites listeners into imagined stories.

Their 2023 album “Education & Recreation” was nominated for the ARIA Award in the jazz category, underscoring their proven talent.

They continue to work energetically, releasing the album “Superb” in May 2025, and are highly recommended for lovers of soul and funk.

A Dance with DeathWe Lost The Sea

We Lost the Sea – A Dance with Death (official video)

Introducing We Lost The Sea from Sydney, a band that forged a unique sonic world through tragedy.

Formed in 2007, they became an instrumental act after the passing of vocalist Chris Torpy in 2013.

A Gallant Gentleman from their 2015 album Departure Songs gained attention after being featured in the Netflix series After Life, and their 2019 album Triumph & Disaster reached No.

41 on the Australian charts.

Their emotive, thunderous sound remains intact on A Single Flower, due out in July 2025—an absolute must for fans of Mogwai and the like.

August 10Khruangbin

Khruangbin – August 10

Khruangbin is a mesmerizing trio from Texas that has captivated many music aficionados with their unique, exotic, instrumental-heavy funk and soul sound, inspired by music from countries like Thailand, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

Their band name, which sounds intriguingly unusual to Japanese ears, is a Thai word meaning “flying engine/airplane,” and it was coined by the group’s sole female member and striking bassist, Laura Lee.

Discovered by the electronic music luminary Bonobo (Simon Green), the trio signed with the indie label Night Time Stories, the team behind the popular compilation series Late Night Tales, and their track “Calf Born in Winter,” included in the series, drew widespread attention.

In 2015, they released their debut album The Universe Smiles Upon You, influenced by Thai music; in 2018, they followed it with their acclaimed second album Con Todo El Mundo, said to be inspired by Spanish and Middle Eastern music.

It was around this time that Khruangbin became known in Japan as well: in March 2019 they made their long-awaited first visit, with tickets selling out immediately, and that summer they quickly boosted their profile further with a performance at Fuji Rock.

In 2020, Khruangbin expanded their musical range with Mordechai, an ambitious work that incorporates vocals on most tracks, marking yet another step in their evolution.

Their enchanting, singular sonic world has the power to transport you somewhere far from here—an experience you should have at least once.

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AccordionAbstract Orchestra

Accordion

Hearing the name “Abstract Orchestra” might make you imagine an avant-garde classical ensemble, but they’re actually a big band that bridges hip-hop and jazz, launched in Leeds, UK in 2011.

Led by saxophonist Rob Mitchell, their large lineup is acclaimed for reconstructing beats—like those of J Dilla—through live performance.

Their approach of reviving masterpieces with a powerful ensemble that includes brass and strings is stunning, as heard on the album Dilla and on Madvillain Vol.

1, which takes on MF DOOM’s tracks.

With projects like their 2020 collaboration with Slum Village, they go beyond mere covers to offer true reinterpretations.

If you want to enjoy hip-hop’s groove and jazz’s improvisational spirit at the same time, this band comes highly recommended!

DjedTortoise

Tortoise – Djed

Among the groups that pushed rock beyond its 1990s development—the so‑called post-rock—Tortoise from Chicago stands out as one of the most important, continuing to influence many artists even into the 2020s.

In addition to the extraordinary musicianship and band ensemble of its multi-talented members, who come from diverse backgrounds like hardcore and jazz, the band drew attention for innovative methods such as using hard-disk recording to edit audio on a computer—remarkable at the time in the 1990s.

As the face of the scene, they became closely associated with Chicago’s artists and bands, who were dubbed the “Chicago Sound School.” It’s extremely difficult to sum up Tortoise’s music in a single phrase: they move freely across genres—from jazz and prog to punk and hip-hop—and on some works even return to analog techniques like tape recording, continually pursuing a unique sound.

In the truest sense, they are a consistently progressive, innovative group.

It’s of course great to start with their classic albums that introduced the concept of post-rock, like 1996’s masterpiece “Millions Now Living Will Never Die” or the further-evolved 1998 “TNT.” But in terms of accessibility, checking out 2001’s “Standards,” which leans more on live band interplay, or the more melodious 2004 release “It’s All Around You,” is also a fine choice!

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