When Minhyun sweetly croons “Dance with me, darling, what are you waiting for?” on The Nocturne’s opener “Moon Dance”, the song’s gravitational pull is hard to resist. It’s this seductive stargazing vibe that boy band NU’EST basks in on their eighth mini album. They lay out a throw blanket and use pyrotechnics, slow dances and meteor showers as metaphors for close encounters. “I’m in Trouble”, which Baekho helped write and compose, shows a more intense spirit. “Firework” derives its power from build-and-release EDM and JR’s distinct low voice. Songs like “Back to Me” and “Must” shimmer with natural beauty. Though the moon is out, The Nocturne feels more celebratory than brooding, and the pop anthem “Shooting Star”, which closes the EP on an upbeat note, reminds that not all stars are in the sky.