The third volume of Soul of Science isn't a patch on the first two volumes. It's apparent that it wasn't too much of a priority for Obsessive, because the running order of the tracks does not reflect the listing on the sleeve. Another let-down with the presentation: While the informative track-by-track liner notes in the first volume were a big plus, neither the second nor this third volume include any. Most importantly, this makes for a relatively tame -- and occasionally tiresome -- listen, with a relatively narrow scope. Both Hugo Montenegro's version of Stevie Wonder's "Too High" and Jessica Williams' "Plath's Return" feature syrupy passages of electronics that would've been put to proper use as themes for '70s game shows. Both NXS' "Sleeper" and Offworld's "Purity of Essence" (the latter featuring Kirk Degiorgio's handiwork) are so smoothed-out and overly polite in nature that they pass by with little notice. Those who picked up the first two volumes of the series and feel obligated to get this one shouldn't be completely disappointed, however. There's still a considerable range of styles, and most of the tracks are either rare or were previously available only on vinyl. Later tracks, like Recloose's mix of Frankie Valentine's "Intro/Outro," Carl Craig's mix of Floppy Sounds' "Entertainment," and Catalyst's "Stairways to the Stars," aren't exactly mix-disc staples, but they're tracks that shouldn't just be heard by clubbers and attentive DJs. Well outside of that realm, Jan Hammer Group's "Don't You Know" (improperly listed as "Don't Know You") is the nicest surprise, a charming pop-R&B-jazz hybrid from the late '70s, full of burbling synths and sweet melodies contained in a three-minute shell. And, of course, it wouldn't be a Soul of Science compilation without some sort of Herbie Hancock connection. In this case, it's his clavinet that's running through the Pointer Sisters' mid-'70s groover "Chainey Do." Actually, the most puzzling aspect of this compilation just might be that hardcore Hancock-head Degiorgio wasn't given enough space in the liner notes to point out that piece of information.