Head Fake is the dynamic synthwave trio reviving the sounds of the ’80s with electronic keys, dark and somber vocals, and nostalgic inducing tunes. Head Fake is a musical group proudly yearning for a blast from the past, heavily wearing their influences on their sleeves such as Depeche Mode and New Order, bringing back a once beloved genre to a whole new generation.
The group, proudly retaining their anonymity, exclusively only go by their first names: Michael, Ivan, and James. Respectively, each member has had a successful music career from producing, DJing, and composing. The Head Fake project brought the trio together with the members hailing from London, New York, and Miami. To sum up their overall vibe, it’s best to take a line from their artist description on Spotify which says, “Youth meets midlife, midlife understands.”
Head Fake, having quite a busy 2020, released the follow-up to their 2019 EP Head Fake with EP2 on Neurodisc Records, including songs such as “Song for Daughters” and “Overjoyed.” But the group didn’t stop there as Head Fake released EP3 in October, continuing the synthwave nostalgic train.
EP3 opens with “Hollywood Dreams,” a crossover of folksy and new wave. The strumming acoustic guitar follows the chord progression of a standard blues song with added layer of a consistent kick drum and melancholy vocals. The track is a perfect introduction to the overall aesthetic of the group and sound they are trying to capture and resurrect. Lyrically, the song symbolizes the ideation of “Hollywood Dreams” personified as a woman constantly being chased after and never being able to catch up with lyrics, “She runs, you follow, wanting more.”
The next song, “You Could Come Around,” picks up the pace with driving drums, a plucky bassline, and ethereal synths constructing the skeleton of the instrumental. The vocals on this are also deep and somber, with the lyrics attempting to invite a person over, understanding very well that their relationship is over, but finding it difficult to move on when one is experiencing the intense feeling of loneliness. This song is definitely a club banger and the type of song a crowd dances around to while the band performs on a foggy stage with strobe lights flashing to the beat.
“The Silence” is a slow-paced ballad with warbling synths accompanied by a soothing acoustic guitar. Keeping with the tone of the previous tracks, the vocals are depressing with the lyrical content talking about a person who chooses to self-isolate burying their head in the ground, yet hates the silence. This track gave off major Gorillaz vibes — especially with the vocal performance being reminiscent of Damon Albarn, in a good way.
The next few tracks play a bit on the mellow side. “All I Carry” contains an arpeggio synth bouncing around the instrumental with more gloomy vocals, while “We Are Stars” is a predominately acoustic tune with an ’80s drum machine carrying the groove.
“Feel Like Going Home” is a song in the tracklist that picks up the pace, almost sounding optimistic and happy. This track definitely feels like it would have been playing on the radio in the ’80s on a countdown of some sorts sitting comfortably next to a Modern English and “When in Rome” song. The synth melody is catchy and bassline is infectious, resulting in an all-around great dance track
The last track “JFK” is groovy with a funky bassline, heavy drums, and a slick guitar lick all within the introduction. “JFK” tells the story of a person looking into the mirror and discovering that they resemble the ghost of the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy. So, from this perspective, the singer asks the female addressed in the song to be his Marilyn Monroe. It was rumored that John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe had an intimate relationship with one another, hence the reason for asking her to be his Marilyn. “JFK” is a very fun track and is not afraid to get a little wild. In a very sincere and complimentary way, the song falls into the vein of Smash Mouth circa Astro Lounge era with the electric piano holding down the groove and the overall vibe.
To sum up Head Fake’s EP3, the album is thoroughly enjoyable. The instrumentation was used as a time capsule to showcase the eclectic and unique musical stylings of the ’80s and how they would perform in the context of the modern age. EP3 includes a fun batch of songs and gives the sense that Head Fake has a deep appreciation for the synthwave genre and want to repackage the sound for a younger generation to enjoy.
EP3 is available on Spotify and Apple Music, and you can follow Head Fake on their social media, as well as their website to stay updated.
