[2025] Recommended Instrumental Bands in Western Music: Popular Overseas Bands

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.

Physical EducationANIMALS AS LEADERS

ANIMALS AS LEADERS – Physical Education (Official Music Video)

Among bands that deliver an instrumental-focused progressive metal sound, Animals as Leaders stand out with their exceptional technique, consistently leading the scene.

Formed in 2007 around Tosin Abasi, a next-generation guitarist who wields an eight-string guitar, the band is a trio whose music—while rooted in progressive metal—draws on a wide range of approaches including jazz and ambient, resulting in remarkably high-quality compositions.

In particular, Abasi’s playing goes beyond virtuosity into outright mind-bending territory—definitely worth checking out in videos.

Even listeners who primarily enjoy genres that demand technical prowess, such as progressive rock or fusion, will undoubtedly be blown away by his guitar work.

As of 2022, the band has released five albums and, despite being an instrumental outfit, has achieved commercial success, including ranking within the top 50 on the Billboard charts—which is impressive in itself.

You can start with any album, but you might consider picking up their third album, The Joy of Motion, released in 2014, which debuted at No.

23 on the Billboard chart.

Juana La CubanaLA LOM

LA LOM Performs “Juana La Cubana”

LA LOM has been attracting attention for its unique sound that blends the diverse traditional music of Latin America—such as Mexico, Cuba, and Peru—with classic American jazz, rockabilly, and soul.

The three members, who held a residency at a historic hotel in Los Angeles, debuted in 2021 with the EP “LA LOM.” In August 2024, they released their highly anticipated album “The Los Angeles League of Musicians” on major label Verve Records, achieving the remarkable feat of reaching No.

5 on Billboard’s Tropical Albums chart.

This accomplished trio has not only opened for Vampire Weekend on tour but has also performed alongside renowned artists like Gladys Knight and Beck.

Enjoy their captivating sound, which, through its multicultural palette and unique artistic vision, presents new possibilities at the intersection of folk traditions and pop music.

Victory DanceEzra Collective

Ezra Collective – Victory Dance (Official Video)

In the 2020s, one of the most talked-about groups on the new generation British jazz scene is the London-based quintet Ezra Collective.

Formed in 2012 around the sibling rhythm section of the Colley brothers on drums and bass, the band’s members met through the musician development program known as Tomorrow’s Warriors, and the lineup notably includes keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones, a key figure in the UK jazz scene.

In 2019, they released their long-awaited debut album, “You Can’t Steal My Joy,” earning high praise for a set of songs that showcase band interplay seamlessly connecting jazz, jazz-funk, and Afrobeat with reggae, Latin music, and even hip-hop.

In November 2022, they released their second album, “Where I’m Meant To Be.” Jazz aficionados will likely grin when they notice that the album cover is modeled after Thelonious Monk’s classic “Underground.” This playful yet cool new work, like its predecessor, delivers a hybrid sound that elevates music from across eras and regions through superb ensemble playing and songwriting—and the sheer swagger of the opening track, “Life Goes On,” featuring Zambian rapper Sampa the Great, is enough to knock you out on its own.

Rich in information and musicality yet never obscure, Ezra Collective is a group that lets you savor the pure joy of music—be sure to keep an eye on them.

MirageGlass Beams

Glass Beams – ‘Mirage’ (Live)

Glass Beams is a mysterious music project from Australia.

They released their debut EP, Mirage, in 2020, featuring four tracks that incorporate cosmic instrumentation, Eastern scales, and polyrhythms influenced by krautrock.

The project’s founder, Rajan Silva, draws inspiration from his cultural roots, as his father was born in India.

Mirage is a captivating work with elements of jazz and psychedelia, and it has garnered attention from figures like DJ and producer Jayda G.

With a slot confirmed at Fuji Rock 2024, Glass Beams are certain to raise their profile in Japan—so you should definitely keep an eye on them now!

HopoponoGoGo Penguin

GoGo Penguin – Hopopono (Official Video) [Gondwana Records]

When you hear the name “GoGo Penguin,” you might find yourself smiling at how cute it sounds.

But despite the adorable band name, GoGo Penguin is a group that leads the scene with a sharp, sophisticated hybrid sound that defies conventional jazz—even though they play in a traditional piano trio format with piano, bass, and drums.

Formed in Manchester, UK in 2009 around pianist Chris Illingworth, they started performing live in local clubs and quickly built a reputation in the underground scene.

In 2012, they released their debut album Fanfares on an indie label.

That same year, they caught the eye of Gilles Peterson—one of the UK’s most renowned DJs and a driving force behind acid jazz—which significantly boosted their profile.

Since their third album, Man Made Object, in 2016, they’ve been releasing music on the prestigious Blue Note label.

As mentioned, their hallmark is a unique, danceably cool sound that not only draws on classic jazz but also strongly reflects influences from classical and contemporary music, techno, and post-rock.

If you want to hear a piano trio that keeps evolving, 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!