German über-producer Ulrich Schnauss is one of those artists who makes a very deliberate effort to cross-pollinate between genres and - most especially - blur the boundary lines between them. Schnauss' utopic IDM prefigures a world where shoegaze (in the tradition of chord-bending greats like the Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine and the Cocteau Twins) has settled into a comfortable life with contemporary, ambient-infused electronic ("they make such a cute couple!").  The Schnauss-ian progeny of this made-in-heaven pairing: explicitly euphoric melodies; gallons and gallons of reverb; and soundscapes so heavenly you'd swear you were having either a near-death experience or a serotonin overdose. Bottom line: even if electronic music "isn't your thing," you'll no doubt find Schnauss' tidal waves of sentimental nu-gaze awe-inspiring and profoundly soothing. 

[The New Frontier Lounge, with Soundpool, special guests, 9 p.m., $15, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]