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Blue wonder power milk.

The Belgium based group Hooverphonic, with their pop-edged, ethereal trip-hop, ooze slicks of electronica, rock and funk. Having had received their sophomore effort, "Blue Wonder Power Milk," I listened to it in its entirety. "This Strange Effect" had surely acclimated itself to my playlist a long time ago. I'm not sure if, in this song, Geike Arnaert's saccharine yet beautiful vocals drew me in, or if it was the guitar work that borderlined sounding like a background soundtrack to a country western stand-off; this juxtaposed against singing violins. Arnaerts vocals are reminiscent of another favourite of mine: Nicola Hitchcock, formerly of the trip-hop group Mandalay.

Some may remember "2wicky," a single off of "A New Sterephonic Sound Spectacular." This song was used in the hit movie, "I Know What You Did Last Summer." It seems a bit misplaced, though - a sophisticated trip-hop group's hit interspersed with scenes from such a puerile movie. One will probably recognize, "Renaissance Affaire" as well - a drum 'n' bass infused track.

Either way, "Blue Wonder Power Milk" is a true testament to Hooverphonic's overwhelming ability in understanding what it means to mix genres, sounds and expertise. Most songs are delicate, salted with hints of unrefinement. "Lung" is a hardhitting departure from this. With big sounds, and an even bigger beat, it certainly does not allow the listener to sit still.

Pulchritudinous it may be, "Blue Wonder Power Milk" makes a clear, yet unobtrusive statement that they are much more than your typical trip-hop group. Although you may find their work amongst the likes of Morcheeba, Portishead, Single Gun Theory and Massive Attack, Hooverphonic has remained quiet yet confident in tackling preconceived notions.

"Eden," a song remade by the magnificent Sarah Brightman, and later remixed by Enigma, is a sensuous, heart-breakingly beautiful serenade ("Did you ever think of me as your best friend...did you ever think of me as your enemy?").

On a side note - getting back to Nicola Hitchcock, her song, "You Will Feel Like This" is perhaps one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Whilst she was in Mandalay, songs such as "Like Her" and "Enough Love" were powerful, yet ephemeral odes to the significance of female vocalists in trip-hop today. I will perhaps always compare Geike Anaert's voice to Hitchcock's, even if the latter's is a bit more soulful and esoteric.

If you enjoy the sounds of trip-hop, soft pop/rock and electronica...hell, if you like music, be sure to make Hooverphonic's "Blue Wonder Power Milk" a part of your collection.

The Knife : A cracked smile and a silent shout.

It often becomes difficult to tell whether Olof and Karin Dreijer, a brother and sister line-up, truly hail from their hometown of Stockholm, Sweden or if they holidayed off a warm, lush coast, fertile with the sweltering sounds of calypso and steel drums. Just as the weather makes for long, sensuous dips in the water, without warning, an arctic blow comes sweeping in. That artic blow just happens to be brought upon by a plethora of synthesizers. With it, blowing away the portents of those used to the straight-forward, club-thumping sounds of IDM.

A delectable hybridization of eclectic, electronic, even bordering on the tropical, The Knife unabashedly takes their listeners on a musical odyssey.

We trust The Knife implicitly on this odyssey, however. We trust their novice brand of electronica simply because it sounds so good. It's smooth, arousing, danceable and crosses the line of 'quirky' without looking back for a second. "Silent Shout" has undeniably become a staple in the intelligent listener's CD collection, as well as the indie listener looking for unbelieveable sounds and beats.

"Heartbeats," an immensely catchy song off of "Deep Cuts," was redone by another Swede - famed folk/indie singer-songwriter Jose Gonzalez. This was, perhaps, the first, true glimpse of The Knife.

Going where not many an indie act has gone before, The Knife won six Grammis; or, the Swedish version of the Grammys. A tour in 2006 proved an even more monumental feat, as they had never performed before. Many a time, hiding behind masks, both Dreijers host their own masquerade ball of sorts each time they step on stage.

"Silent Shout" is a remarkable ode to The Knife's capabilities. "Marble House," a single off of this gem, is heartbreakingly beautiful in, frankly, the oddest of ways. Off kilter and lyrically strange ("Now where's your shoulder? What is its name? What's your scent? Say it again - if it goes faster can you still follow me? It must be safe when it's on TV"), this pseudo-love song makes for an incredible piece of music. Their lyrics are never completely opaque; rather alarming, yet ingenious.