Photo: Ben Bauermeister and Natalie Hoffmann

Optic Sink are compellingly cutting on the no-wave jam “Exhibitionist”

Optic Sink is the new project spearheaded by Natalie Hoffman of NOTS, in partnership with percussionist Ben Bauermeister, who will be releasing their self-titled debut album on October 2. Following the release of “Personified”, they’ve shared another new track called “Exhibitionist”.

Once again, Optic Sink creates a whole atmosphere with minimal ingredients. Sticking to a no wave approach with grey and cutting layers of lo-fi drum machines, layers of electronic buzz and a seasick video game melody, “Exhibitionist” is truly addictive. Hoffman’s disaffected speak-singing draws you into this view of a self-obsessed someone; “you can go far / you can watch yourself,” she repeats with anti-enthusiasm, a delivery cutting in its hefty sardonicism. As this hypnotic combination unspools across five minutes, “Exhibitionist” begins to melt down into a pool of whining sounds and broken down machines, as if the titular person has looked at themselves so much that their image has started to warp and corrupt – a delicious denouement.

Optic Sink’s debut album Optic Sink is out October 2 via Goner Records. You can find the project on Bandcamp, Instagram and Facebook.