Beyond The Beat — Where It Starts, Where It Ends

Where It Starts, Where It Ends is the debut release from this abstract electro jazz duo. The project brings together Arthur Fuss- Modular Synthesizer and Judith Schwarz-Extended Drums. The CD release features six tracks- with runtimes between six and twelve minutes- the album remains taut, tense, and angularly playful throughout.

We move from opening track “Sub” which shifts from moody swoops & grates, though building storms of reverb chop & bounding dart. Onto blends of tip-topping percussion, playful honks, and grainy static detail. We have the taut-at-points almost harmonic underpinning’s of “Click” which blends eerier toll 'n' bound, tick-tock unease, and a dense rounding-corners electro groove.

In the albums second half we move from “Bell” which blends sparse-yet-tight reigned in tribal battering’s with more moodily tolling flows. Onto “Dance” which starts off with fairly locked techno chop and dramatic drum fill detail- before steady pulling apart & warping itself.

As a duo Beyond The Beat certainly present a original/ distinctive sound- seemingly a second album is in the works, so I certainly look forward to seeing how they develop.