Holy Ghost! (self-titled)
LABEL: DFA

Ah, the DJ duo.  Whether they’re spinning the best set you’ve ever heard in your major city of choice, or extending the life of already-great indie songs by remixing them into dancefloor friendly adaptations; it seems the double DJ group is becoming more of a mainstay in the electronic and dance-pop scene. Following in the footsteps of other dual DJs like Daft Punk and MSTRKRFT, New York natives Holy Ghost! are finally releasing a full length album of their own after years of dropping singles and remixes.

Although the album sometimes sounds downright futuristic, this 10-track gem, ironically sounds like it could be set nicely on a 70’s to early 80’s dancefloor, as well. This is nu-disco a la Chromeo. It’s disappointing to find that two of the best tracks are the already released singles “Hold On” and “Static on the Wire” as I would have liked some more new material, but most of the other tracks on Holy Ghost! are a far cry from filler.

The album starts with the rather so-so “Do it Again” but quickly leaps to one of its grandest moments with “Wait and See”. Again, like most of Holy Ghost!, this song is not exactly club ready but it makes for more than a pleasurable listen. The drums keep the song nice and tight and the synth keeps the listener captivated. Another one of the finest tracks comes next in the form of “Hold My Breath.” The song sounds very much like something from the mind of  the aforementioned Chromeo and the vocals are even delivered in a similar way. That said, it’s still one of the best tracks here. “Say My Name” and “Jam For Jerry” are both very late 70’s Michael Jackson-esque tracks with an updated modern twist. Almost nostalgic in a haunting kind of way. “Hold on” is a testament to the less-is-more approach.The track seems to have less layers, sounding slightly more simplistic but it all ties together to bring us the magic that Holy Ghost! is known for. The duo’s other previously released song, “Static on the Wire” is the ace of this deck. Its production values are high, it’s catchy and sanguine, and it even has a guitar solo.

Holy Ghost! is a truly solid debut. It provides a satisfying listening experience and, while not made for the mainstream dancefloor, it is danceable in its own right—in that stand in front of the mirror and lock the door kind of way. While I would have really liked Holy Ghost! to have taken us where no DJs have gone before, they have given us a debut with all of the reasons we’ve grown to love them in the first place. Can’t really complain about that.


REVIEWED BY STEPHEN RICARDO
STEPHEN’S FAVORITE TRACKS: “Wait and See” • “Hold My Breath” • “Static on the Wire”

FREE MP3: “Do it Again”
FREE MP3: “Say My Name”

+ STREAM album in its entirety on Hype Machine

Holy Ghost! - Wait & See from DFA Records on Vimeo.