NESS NÖST’s ‘caffeinenicotinenosleepdopamine’ is one of those tracks that seems to operate somewhere between a trance-like mantra and a particularly strange night out. The repeated title phrase becomes hypnotic, while the production veers from experimental electronics into surprisingly commercial trip-hop territory.
At times, there’s an odd but rather appealing collision here between the cool, early-doors synth-pop of The Human League and the sophisticated electronic melancholy of Everything But The Girl. Nöst’s grittier, more experimental direction suits the late-night subject matter perfectly, and I particularly enjoyed the way the track eventually drifts into a pleasingly abstract ending.
Her forthcoming EP CONTROL YOURSELF explores body, sexuality and power through fragmented, dream-like late-night reflections. 'caffeinenicotinenosleepdopamine' works because it has all the colour of experimentation, but with the sharp focus of pop sensibilities.