Godspeed You Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven

The second album from the Canadian post rockers was not one of individual songs but more of a symphony. Four tracks spread over two discs and split into multiple parts, each of singular brilliance. Each track is divided and constructed in such a way that it utterly lulls the listener in, calming and soothing before raising the tempo and crescendo to deliver one of the most powerful instrumental albums of the noughties. What Godspeed demonstrated was that instrumental music could be apocalyptic but also beautiful. Who needs words when music alone can be this wonderful. (Stephen Mooney)