Yeah I know what you mean... I don't mind hearing their songs on the radio, but I don't need an album of them... They don't stand out in any way... Too polished, too middle of the way, like you said

Trip-hop is an interesting genre. Most of the time it has some innovative features. On a musical AND on a technical point of view.

the techical point of view is something I'm not that interested in... well maybe because I'm not a musician... I can't play one single note... I would want to have some musical knowledge... But I guess I'm too lazy to start with it... and it's probably too late already...

when talking about the technical features, I'm talking about the special sound techniques and treatments that were used to make the song sound different. For instance the effects and the audio tools. I don't really remember which song it was, but I've heard a song by Smoke City : the voice of the singer had been changed by an harmonic exciter and I remember that it sounded really cool!!!

well I don't really pay attention to things like that...

hey, what is harmonic exciter? does it make the voice more exciting?

I think it is cool to have special sound techniques and treatments in a song if they are used properly, instead of being overused.

the harmonic exciter recreates high frequencies on a sound by amplifying upper harmonics.
it makes the instrument sound clearer, unreal at least.
the harmonic exciter can be applied to any sound, but if you apply it on a voice, it's easier to hear the difference because we perfectly know what a voice sounds like.