Beat

After a debut effort showcasing Bowery Electric’s skill at moody as hell modern psych/drone, Martha Schwendener and Lawrence Chandler’s followup album in 1996 showcased a key element indicated right in the title: the beat. If their exact aesthetic wasn’t quite that of near contemporaries Seefeel, their explorations in sampling allowed them to create a striking fusion, murky breaks and propulsion suddenly making them stand out further. Landing as techno’s impact in and out of shoegaze kept playing out, as well as when the sudden burst of interest in trip-hop and associated efforts kicked in, Beat couldn’t’ve been better timed. The lengthy title track is a full statement of purpose kicking everything off, Schwendener’s vocals a low-key murmur as a crackling shuffle of drums gently propels a flowing blend of loops and bass. Beat’s progression from there is often variations on a great theme, but those variations land unfailingly, from the leading-with-the-drums echoed punch of “Without Stopping” to the shimmering, entrancing roil of songs like “Fear of Flying” and the Chandler-sung “Coming Down.”