Jackanapes “Hit City”

09 Jul 2013 — Henry Schiller

“Hit City” is a new track from Jackanapes, the recording project of Long Island, New York’s Craig Heed. Each of the two songs Heed has posted to his Soundcloud page is a stunning reconciliation of mid-80s new wave slickness and Brooklyn-rooted lo fi. On "Hit City" fractures of crystalline guitar and effected keyboard chords are underlined by a smooth and almost samba-esque dance bassline, which shines magnificently on the song’s accelerated choruses. Between the bass and the electronic percussion, "Hit City" has a fantastic momentum, which is paired nicely with softly nocturnal, but startlingly clear vocals. There is also something reminiscent of Avey Tare’s recent output in the way Heed sings the chilling refrain of "I close my eyes and dream." The combination of cold new wave charm and a feisty post-prog attitude should put Jackanapes’s particular brand of darkened guitar-pop in good standing with the Brooklyn set.