Exceptional soundtracks can make good movies great. They can also take on a life of their own, becoming a greater highlight than their respective films. In this series, I’m selecting some of my favorite soundtrack songs. While quite a few are well-known recordings, I’m also including a few that have flown under the radar over the years.

The rarely mentioned Lost in Translation soundtrack is a bit underrated in my opinion. There’s some gold in there — with early Phoenix, a Jesus & Mary Chain staple and a My Bloody Valentine distortion fest. But my pick is an underrated song from an underrated soundtrack: Air’s “Alone in Kyoto”.

“Alone in Kyoto” is a powerful reminder of the simplicity and beauty of an instrumental. With no lyrics to hide behind, every single note has to be perfect. Every single note has to be critical, not fluff. “Alone in Kyoto” took a classical approach to ambient, painting a rich, delicate soundscape that captured the feelings of isolation stewing throughout the movie.