Similar to the first two albums released by their
Sunroof
project,
Daniel Miller
and
Gareth Jones
recorded
Electronic Music Improvisations, Vol. 3
from scratch using Eurorack modular synthesizers. They improvised compositions using two channels for each person, with no overdubs. Using each session as an opportunity to explore fresh terrain, the pair create sounds in the spirit of the earliest electronic music pioneers. The pieces on
Vol. 3
have more distinctive titles than those on the first two
albums, which were named after their recording date or month. The duo often sound like they're probing alien terrain, slowly navigating through a dark, obscure planet and constantly being met with interference. While there are pieces filled with arrhythmic rustling, crackling, and shaking, there's also a dripping ambient techno pulse to "Ensnare," and a more propulsive beat to "Freezer," which is matched with church organ-like arpeggios. "Brotherly" is an expansive yet fidgety analog synth spread, and "Stratum" has some brain-teasing echi and left-to-right channel panning. "Second Thoughts" is more disturbing, with garbled voices seemingly speaking in code through the machines. "Conspiracies" has a tense, lapping throb that steadily accelerates. One has to simply go along for the ride when listening to
's recordings, as the duo aren't heading toward any destination themselves, but they often end up in fascinating spaces. ~ Paul Simpson