Bowery Electric "Beat" CD

File somewhere between DJ Shadow and My Bloody Valentine… New York based post-rock trio Bowery Electric blend shoegaze guitars and downtempo drum loops on Beat, their sophomore LP for Kranky. Taking cues from Mo’ Wax and trip-hop groups like Massive Attack and Portishead, Bowery Electric embraced a hip-hop aesthetic within the rock scene, capturing the “Kranky sound” while also breaking into new territory. Slow, repetitive drums (some sampled and others featuring Wayne Magruder’s live drums) build a sort of looping melancholy alongside hypnotic basslines and droning reverb-heavy guitars. Martha Schwendener’s vocals come in at just the right moments, offering a bit of sunshine peeking through the sludge of cloudy guitars and dubby bass. Recommended listening the whole way through as the tracks flow smoothly through beatless ambient, deep instrumental grooves, and vocal-driven songs. CD from Kranky.