Different Rooms arrives like a sonic postcard from the concrete jungle, trading the ethereal escapism of Jeremiah Chiu and Marta Sofia Honer‘s debut for something decidedly more grounded.

Following their critically acclaimed Recordings from the Åland Islands, this LA-based duo has crafted their most immediate work yet. Where their first collaboration transported listeners elsewhere, Different Rooms meets you in the urban here and now, weaving field recordings from train platforms and city streets into their signature blend of modular electronics and processed chamber strings.

Discussing the process of crafting the album, Chiu and Honer say: “This record marks an evolution in our approach to studio production. Our studios are side-by-side. When we were writing this album, you might have found us tracking viola stacks in one studio while, in the other, we were writing through-composed themes and rearranging the material. Granular synthesis and tape manipulation are key tools we use to create variation and movement in a composition. This process often yields surprising results, capturing the emotion but expressing it in unexpected ways. It feels essential that we embrace a bit of chance.”

In the above visually captivating mini documentary crafted by David Burkart, Chiu and Honer delve further into the intriguing realm of Different Rooms.

The album’s genius lies in its embrace of controlled chaos, granular synthesis and tape manipulation create unexpected emotional detours while maintaining the duo’s hypnotic, multi-rhythmic foundation. Side by Side featuring Jeff Parker showcases their collaborative chemistry, while the eight-minute Before and After Signs demonstrates their mastery of extended form, building tension through layered viola stacks and ambient textures.

Different Rooms succeeds brilliantly as both headphone music and environmental soundtrack, blurring the boundaries between composed and found sound with remarkable sophistication.