This month, I’m looking back at movies and tv shows to rediscover songs that graced the screen. The scenes and the music are inseparable. They’re engrained in our heads and our hearts. And they’re proof that the best music we have doesn’t exist in isolation. It attaches itself to a moment or an experience. #SceneSongs

Movie: Lost In Translation

The Lost in Translation soundtrack is a rare gem. It celebrates established revered acts like dream pop pioneers The Jesus & Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine. It also gives us an early look at two bands – both from France, but representing opposite ends of the electronic spectrum. One is Phoenix on the synth pop side, the other is Air on the ambient side. My favorite track on the soundtrack is 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 and texture is perfect. Every element is 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, as Charlotte strolled by Kyoto’s beauty on her own.