Opus III - Mind Fruit (1994)

Kirsty Hawkshaw was more than an ethereal beauty behind the pop house outfit Opus III. She may have claimed to be from another galaxy, but that quirkiness benefited the sonic grooves composed by the U.K. four-piece. Their debut, Mind Fruit, (1992) was more than just another techno record in the face of the genre's underground taking shape during the early '90s. Hawkshaw's dove-like vocals transcended into freewheeling soundscapes; the remake of Barton & Jane's "It's a Fine Day" is melodically enchanting with loopy trance vibes and textured synth waves, but the crafty version of King Crimson's "I Talk to the Wind" composes a dreamy synthetic wave. Opus III was barely a step ahead of electronica's late '90s surge, yet it was just strong enough to join the ranks or move beyond the scene. This album, however, does define a healthy dose of what was yet to come. Hawkshaw would later contribute vocals on cuts for BT, Deep Dish, and Orbital.~Mind Fruit Review by MacKenzie Wilson