London noise duo Scared Little Toaster return with “No Decaf,” a jittery, feedback-laced cut that channels their obsession with broken routines and bad coffee. Building on the fuzzed-out momentum of their February single “Vibra,” this new track dives headfirst into the small-but-devastating letdowns of daily life—burnt toast, wrong orders, and everything in between.
Backed by jagged, mathy rhythms and a distorted low-end that feels like it’s been scraped off the pavement, “No Decaf” captures the moment your expectations collapse before 9 a.m. It’s meant to feel real, as real as a cold mug of decaf when you’re already running late.
The duo, bassist Hugh L and drummer Sonny Patten, have been steadily carving a name for themselves in London’s experimental scene. Their sonic vocabulary—part doom, part noise, part improvised jazz breakdown—owes as much to years of genre-hopping in past bands as it does to the list of acts they consume obsessively on the go.
Hugh and Sonny have now shared a playlist that runs like a blueprint for their sound. Hugh’s picks lean heavily on aggressive low-end creativity, while Sonny’s add grit, groove, and rhythmic volatility.
Hugh’s list (the bassist):
“Assassins” – Lightning Bolt
Lightning Bolt has been one of my biggest influences when it comes to achieving a massive, immersive bass sound. Their use of octaves has shaped my approach, inspiring me to incorporate the Digitech Whammy and Boss Octave pedal into my playing.
Their songs are relentlessly intense, packed with an incredible energy that never lets up.
“Bug” – Ruins
It’s no surprise that another bass-and-drums duo has had such a huge impact on our music. Ruins’ unpredictable time signature changes, dynamic shifts, and textured, trance-like vocals have pushed me to write riffs that keep listeners on edge—never quite sure what’s coming next. Their fuzzy, manic sound has been a major inspiration.
“Carry Stress in the Jaw” – Mr. Bungle
It’s hard to put into words just how insanely talented Mike Patton and his bands are. Their incredible fusion of genres, boundary-pushing creativity, and ability to take listeners on a thrilling musical journey with every song make me want to keep experimenting, inspiring me to explore new and unconventional directions with every idea.
“Flat Earth” – Clowncore
Louis Cole is an absolute musical virtuoso (though Clowncore’s true identities remain unconfirmed…). Their music somehow manages to blend infectious grooves, jazzy breaks, heavy drops, and massive riffs—all in a way that feels groovy, heavy, melodic, and completely captivating at the same time.
“Multiply” by Adi Oasis
Her voice is nothing short of majestic, effortlessly blending with her incredibly funky bass playing. The way she uses space in her bass riffs is masterful—something I deeply admire and strive to replicate in my own playing. Her tone is undeniably groovy.
After watching her perform at The Jazz Cafe a few years ago, I was so inspired by her sound that I went out and got an Aguilar Filter Twin pedal, just to capture a bit of that funk myself.
Sonny’s list (the drummer):
’68 – Whether Terrified or Unafraid
Bluesy, bolshy and groovy as heck, ’68 are one of my favourite two pieces going. Sheer triplet-y swagger and unapologetic guttural vocals, you can’t not dance to it. An octave pedal doesn’t hurt either.
Amenra – .The Pain.It Is Shapeless.
– This band and song speak very much to my more drone and doom based influences from my end that feature, in part, on No Decaf.
Sometimes you just want to play a really long, simple riff into a hypnotic haze, to then come back in with the intensity. Of course, you will have to wait around 5 minutes into this song for that bit, as with any doom band.
Converge – Sparrows Fall
Converge have always been a bastion of hectic drum parts and riddled with groovy riffs, d-beats and blast beats.
Growing up pretty much eating up every Deathwish band has a massive impact on my playing, and this style of drumming is regularly feature in SLT drum parts.
