Right from the start of their latest EP (they have two others plus a split EP under their belt), newly-renamed HIJK—formerly Hijack the Disco—present fairly spare and mellow, yet driving, indie-rock. There’s also a slight atmospheric or electro-rock aspect to the group’s sound, evident in the keyboard-playing and guitars early in “Alibi”—the first track. Keyboard player Mike Mahony trades vocals here with guitarist Dave Tsui, a supremely successful partnership for the rest of the EP and surely, for the album to come. “Smells Like Cigarettes” is—with “Center of Things”—the strongest effort on this five-song disc, mostly due to its lyrical title phrase and its similarly evocative music and well-painted vignette (it seems like there are a lot fewer jackets smelling like cigarettes these days, for better or worse). HIJK seems to have contemporary kin in bands like Ireland’s The Frames; with an ability to play carefully and quietly, but the ability to convincingly rock out when they feel the need. All in all, it’s solid work from these West coasters with the fresh, sing-able moniker.
-Andrew Palmacci
