Jimmy Hoffa

12.  Jakob - Jimmy Hoffa 
  Nine thousand miles across the Pacific, tucked away in the port city of Napier on New Zealand's east coast, three-piece instrumental outfit Jakob, at the command of the simplest of rock assemblages, craft a series of rich, complex, evolving melodies that are captured to intoxicating perfection.  “Jimmy Hoffa” is as evocative and cathartic as it is delicate and subtle.  From the ominously layered opening strums to the staggering pedal abuse that seeps away into a poignant anticlimax, not a single moment in its eight-plus minute life span is wasted in constructing the tightest, most precious sonic analogy for its mysterious namesake.  “Jimmy Hoffa” may have propelled them to the title of New Zealand's leading post-rock act, but unlike Mr.  Hoffa, they sure aren't going anywhere.  (Mac Nguyen)