BEST LOCAL ELECTRONICA ARTIST The Waterford Landing Fronted by unassuming composer/keyboard player/droll singer/arbitrator Alex Caso, the Waterford Landing is actually a democratic trio, with Caso joined by scene veterans Richard Rippe (electric bass, synthesizers) and Ed Matus (electric guitar, synthesizers, vocals) to channel shoegazer and New Wave to the suburbs. Formed in 1997, the Landing has plenty of devoted local followers, many of whom have become friends as well as fans. This past year the trio released an eponymous debut album that is truly an album -- listenable all the way through, with the dazzling "The Girls of Saga Bay" becoming an Internet and WVUM-FM (90.5) regular. Drawing inspiration from sources as diverse as Ultravox and the Magnetic Fields, the men of Waterford infuse their pop with moments of psychedelia and experimentation but also with the kind of shimmering languor possible only for those immersed in Miami's somnolent (truly) alternative music culture as well as the environment here in general. "We all have day jobs," Caso admits of the hep threesome. "I may seem like the mayor of the band, but in fact we are all equal and integral parts of this project. It is somewhat of a power trio."

Readers´ Choice: Otto Von Schirach