Holy Ghost! Explained

Holy Ghost!
Landscape:	yes
Origin:	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Years Active:	2007–2019
Associated Acts:	The Juan MacLean
Website:	(inactive)
Current Members:	Nick Millhiser Alex Frankel

Holy Ghost! were an American synthpop duo from Brooklyn, New York City. Founded in 2007, the duo consisted of Nick Millhiser and Alex Frankel.^[1]

History

Millhiser and Frankel both grew up on the Upper West Side of New York City and attended Trevor Day School together.^[2] They were later part of a hip hop group called Automato. Automato's debut album was produced by James Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy of DFA. According to Frankel, after the release of the album, Automato "kind of fell apart".^[3] Millhiser and Frankel kept working on music, their collaboration having already begun moving towards the alternative dance genre.

The name Holy Ghost! was selected just before the pressing of their debut single "Hold On" in November 2007.^[2] The single was described by Resident Advisor as "one of the dirtiest little Italo tunes you're likely to hear this year".^[4]

The duo continued to work on various remixes for the likes of Moby, Cut Copy and MGMT. Their second single, "I Will Come Back" was initially released in conjunction with Mountain Dew's Green Label Sound record label. A video was made for the single that is a shot-for-shot remake of New Order's "Confusion" video, including Arthur Baker reprising his role from the original.^[5] The song was later included on the Static on the Wire EP, released on the 18 May 2010.^[6] The duo also began to play live, starting with a tour with label mates LCD Soundsystem.^[6]

The duo's self-titled debut album was released on April 2, 2011.^{[7] [8]} Their second album, Dynamics, was released on September 3, 2013. The duo's second extended play, Crime Cutz, was released on April 29, 2016.^[9] Their third album, Work, was released on June 21, 2019.^[10]

Discography

Albums

• Holy Ghost! (2011)
• Dynamics (2013)
• Work (2019)

Extended plays

• Static on the Wire (2010)
• Crime Cutz (2016)

Mix albums

• The Remixes Vol. 1 (2009)
• Work for Hire (2015)^[11]

Singles

Title	Year	Album
"Hold On"	2007	Non-album single
"I Will Come Back"	2009	Static on the Wire
"Hold On"/"On Board" (Friendly Fires vs Holy Ghost	)	2010	Non-album single
"Say My Name"	Static on the Wire
"Do It Again"	2011	Holy Ghost
"Wait & See"
"Hold My Breath"
"I Wanted to Tell Her"		Non-album single
"It's Not Over"	2012	Holy Ghost!
"It Gets Dark"		Non-album single
"Dumb Disco Ideas"	2013	Dynamics
"Teenagers in Heat"		Non-album single
"Okay"		Dynamics
"Bridge & Tunnel"	2014
"Crime Cutz"	2016	Crime Cutz
"Anxious"	2018	Work
"Epton on Broadway (Part I & Part II)"	2019
"Escape from Los Angeles"

Remixes

• 2007: "Goblin City" by Panthers
• 2007: "Spectacle Wins" by Only Fools and Horses
• 2007: "Hearts on Fire" by Cut Copy
• 2008: "I Love to Move in Here" by Moby
• 2008: "Business Acumen" by In Flagranti
• 2008: "Moon Song" by They Came from the Stars I Saw Them
• 2008: "I Can See" by Jazzanova featuring Ben Westbeech
• 2008: "Of Moons, Birds and Monsters" by MGMT
• 2009: "Lisztomania" by Phoenix
• 2009: "The Deep End" by Curses!
• 2009: "The Pretender" by Datarock
• 2009: "I Can See" by Jazzanova
• 2010: "Drunk Girls" by LCD Soundsystem
• 2010: "Love Get Out of My Way" by Monarchy
• 2010: "Somebody to Love Me" by Mark Ronson and the Business Intl
• 2010: "The Deep End" by Curses!
• 2011: "Drop Me a Line" by Midnight Magic
• 2011: "Blue Moon" by Moby
• 2013: "Working the Midnight Shift" by Donna Summer
• 2018: "Control (Secretly Sorry)" by JR JR

Members

• Nick Millhiser
• Alex Frankel

Touring members

• Chris Maher – guitar, percussion, background vocals (2010–present)
• Erik Tonnesen – synthesizers, background vocals (2010–present)
• Sam Jones – synthesizers, percussion, background vocals (2011–present)
• Chris Berry - drums (2014–present)
• Jim Orso – drums, background vocals (2011–2014)

Notes and References

1. Web site: . Most blogged artists: synth pop duo Holy Ghost! releases free track, new video . https://web.archive.org/web/20141213014533/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/most-blogged-artists-synth-pop-duo-holy-ghost-releases-free-track-new-video-2284917.html . dead . December 13, 2014 . . May 16, 2011 . July 7, 2012.
2. Web site: Reynaldo . Shawn . Exclusive Holy Ghost! Interview . . January 12, 2009 . February 4, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101207131916/http://www.xlr8r.com/features/2009/11/exclusive-holy-ghost-interview . December 7, 2010 .
3. Web site: Evans . Robert . Holy Ghost! Interview: SXSW 2010 . . March 15, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110728101449/http://www.spinnermusic.co.uk/2010/03/15/holy-ghost-interview-sxsw-2010/ . July 28, 2011 . February 4, 2011.
4. Web site: Burns . Todd L. . Holy Ghost! – Hold On . . November 9, 2007 . February 4, 2011.
5. Web site: Rees . Thomas . Holy Ghost!'s "I Will Come Back" Vid . XLR8R . July 9, 2009 . February 4, 2011.
6. Web site: Breihan . Tom . Holy Ghost! Remix "Drunk Girls", Tour With LCD Soundsystem, Release EP . . April 27, 2010 . February 4, 2011.
7. Web site: Maguire . Chris MUG5 . Holy Ghost! Reveal Album Art, Plot U.S. Tour with Cut Copy . https://web.archive.org/web/20121001235111/http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/125593-holy-ghost-reveal-album-art-plot-u.html . dead . October 1, 2012 . AltSounds . February 3, 2010 . February 4, 2011 .
8. Web site: Holy Ghost! Makes Room for Us . . February 3, 2010 . February 9, 2011.
9. Web site: Crime Cutz . Holy Ghost! Bandcamp Page . May 30, 2016.
10. Web site: Holy Ghost! Detail New Album, Share New Song: Listen . . April 3, 2019 . April 3, 2019.
11. Web site: Holy Ghost! announces remix album, premieres rework of Hanni El Khatib's 'Two Brothers' . . April 7, 2015 . April 7, 2015 . Geslani, Michelle.