Unsurpassed Outtakes is a collection of chill psychedelic instrumental background music. Some of the tracks could be categorized "ambient", but unlike most ambient music, the compositions on this double album incorporate many layers of acoustic instruments along with the electronics. Composer David Barnes is skilled with a wide range of instruments and incorporates many of them into these recordings - Zithers, hammer dulcimers, mandolins, acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitar, piano, Hammond organ, Rhodes piano, sampled sounds and a wide range of percussion. The instrument tracks are layered one after another in an improvised fashion with David playing all instrument parts. Then the nuts and bolts of the composing takes place in the extensive editing process. The unusual playing techniques, tunings and instrument combinations make for some very unique-sounding recordings.

A few of Barnes' fans have written back to say that they listen to these albums almost every day. That they make great background