Instinct - Niki and the Dove
Instinct Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 35 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the debut full-length release for Swedish electro-pop duo of Malin Dahlström and Gustaf Karlöf.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 23
  2. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Jun 8, 2012
    90
    One of the essential debuts of the year so far.
  2. Aug 6, 2012
    80
    Flourishes like the instrumental outro on "Last Night" and the shifting tempos of "The Fox" speak to the duo's willingness to experiment with tone and rhythm in ways that are forward-thinking without being labored or self-indulgent.
  3. Aug 6, 2012
    80
    Instinct is a vivid and varied debut, and ultimately a more rewarding listen than if Niki and the Dove had just explored one facet of their sound.
  4. Aug 28, 2012
    60
    There isn't a whole lot of diversity in the musical canvas here... Nevertheless, the album remains ridiculously infectious. Try as you may not want to, you'll be hard pressed to walk away not liking it, or without at least one of the ditties stuck in your head.

See all 23 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. The Knife meets Kate Bush, this album is full to the brim with infectious hooks and off-kilter melodies. It's nothing overly unique or ambitious and it can be seen as playing it a bit safe but I'd be lying if I said the hooks weren't stuck in my head for the entire summer break. Expand
  2. 5
    If Cirque de Solei married the stepchild of Price and Enya. I don't have anything else to say about this album, yet I need to hit the minimum of 150 characters. Expand