Holy Ghost!

by Holy Ghost!

Overview

Like the most adept synthesists of '80s club music -- Morgan Geist (Metro Area), Stuart Price (Zoot Woman), Trevor Jackson (Playgroup) -- Alex Frankel and Nick Millhiser know their history inside-out and how to manipulate the studio gear that made it. The two have the total package, including but not limited to the zipping synthetic basslines, the wriggling rhythm-guitar lines, the torrents of fleet drums, and the melancholy vocals over a sound that is altogether colorful and uplifting. It's all done with studious attention to detail and total sincerity, even when they evoke uncool-as-of-2011 mid-'80s reference points like Sly Fox (Frankel's sung/rapped delivery on "Do It Again") and stadium-era Simple Minds (the frosty piano on "Wait and See"). The same goes for the keyboard-triggered vocal chirps, the plastic horns, and -- oh yeah -- Michael McDonald, who's on the glistening midtempo closer "Slow Children," not as a stunt but out of necessity. (Frankel had written a part out of his range and used some connections to enlist the soft rock icon.) Three tracks from the duo's 2007-2010 run of singles and EPs are woven into the sequence, and they're naturally among the album's highlights. The new songs are, for the most part, up to that high standard. What doesn't make a direct hit on the hips and heart is, at the least, well constructed. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	04/26/2011
Label:	DFA RECORDS
UPC:	0829732226720

Tracks

1. Do It, Again
2. Wait & See
3. Hold My Breath
4. Say My Name
5. Jam for Jerry
6. Hold On
7. It's Not Over
8. Slow Motion
9. Static On the Wire
10. Some Children

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Holy Ghost!   Primary Artist
Mike Williams   Trombone
Tama Techstar   Drums
Chris Glover   Bass,Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Alex Aldi   Vocals,Clavinet,Jupiter 6,Mellotron,Prophet 5,Wurlitzer,Harpsichord,Fender Rhodes,Piano
Eric Biondo   Trumpet
Luke Jenner   Vocals (Background)
Jerry Fuchs   Drums,Hi Hat,Trumpet
Chris Maher   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Nick Millhiser   Bass,Toms,Drums,Guitar,Cowbell,Timbales,Omnichord,Prophet 5,Percussion,Prophet 600
Chris Zane   Congas
Jonathan Powell   Trumpet,Trombone (Valve)
Michael McDonald   Vocals
Brooklyn Youth Chorus   Vocals
Ben Grubin   Vocals (Background)
John Maclean   Guitar,Soloist

Technical Credits

Alex Aldi   Mixing,Engineer,Drum Programming
Gary Cirimelli   Engineer
Cerrone   Composer
Wolfram Eckert   Composer
Eric Broucek   Mixing,Engineer
The Juan MacLean   Engineer
Chris Zane   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Drum Programming
Tim Goldsworthy   Programming
Nick Millhiser   Composer,Photography,Drum Programming
Diskokaine   Producer
D.Ray   Composer
Jon Decola   Photo Assistance
Holy Ghost!   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Michael Vadino   Photography
James Murphy   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Harry McNally   Photography
Jon Galkin   A&R