365 Days of Songs (2005)

Utterly majestic. It really defies belief—the song starts with ridiculous sounds (a “yip” with a repeating delay and a truncated “dip” sound bouncing around the mix) against a simple synth bed. But somehow, Anthony Gonzalez makes the ridiculous work hand in hand with the epic and the sublime. Once you’re pulled into the choirs of voices, lush synths, and measured but propulsive drums, every sound makes sense.

My best description of this song is that it’s what you’d hear at a sci-fi viking funeral. I don’t even know if it’s technically song—it rides the same progression for nearly 11 minutes, it has no real structure (unless adding and later subtracting instruments and sounds counts as structure) and no lyrics. I do know it’s a staggering, immersive piece of work. (Another amazing album closer, too.)