Instinct — the first full-length studio album by Swedish electro-pop trio Niki & The Dove — defines the painful, never-ending phenomenon of nightclub music. Malin Dahlström’s voice channels legendary rock and roller Steve Nicks, only with an uncomfortably haunting range that makes listeners cringe. Instinct is composed of 14 songs of electric hell, a continuous blend of the same unusual melody. “The Beach” and “Last Night” echo one-hit wonders from the ’80s, something I believe the music industry is better off without. I give credit to Niki & The Dove for their dedication in the studio, but no praise for their lack of creating something original and distinct. The trio fails to deliver a unique sound; instead, they remain caught in the middle of the indie-techno dance genre.

(Sub Pop Records, 2013 Fourth Avenue, #300, Seattle, WA 98121)