Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost!

With so many current clichés to boot it's difficult where to start to evaluate Holy Ghost! An electronic (1) male (2) duo (3) from New York City (4) that have built a small name for themselves (5) by remixing (6) for the likes of MGMT (7) and LCD Soundsystem (8), what does stick out is the sheer tenacity with which opener 'Do It Again' asserts itself. Sounding like a Prince collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys, it's a perfect stab at current trends with a slick synth chorus and cool twanging vocals about 'the city' and 'networks'; like Kraftwerk felt like dancing.

'Wait and See' continues with the pop hooks in the same vein that Empire of the Sun managed albeit less consistently (whilst their singles certainly shone better), but 'Hold My Breath' is just a shade too nostalgic and retrospective as to prove anything remotely original or stellar. There's however a disco-funk element to 'Say My Name' that is endlessly catchy; paired with tensely spat vocals that The Human League would be proud of.


But where Say My Name interprets other influences, 'Jam For Jerry' squanders. The bassline to the track is almost enough merit but is matched with a series of pretty standard electropop tunes that, whilst likely to provoke a desire to dance, aren't particularly noteworthy. By this stage it almost feels like the tracks are paired so as to initially reel you in with something new and exciting, only to repeat it and eventually replace it with something less fulfilling: since 'Hold On' (their 2007 single which really introduced them to the electronic scene) is a pretty brilliant tune, full of nods to the early 90s rave scene and with influences of grime and disco.

'It's Not Over' thankfully buckles that trend with a pretty faultless pop track, complete with heavy drums and jittery guitars for a rather disconcerting atmosphere, like an apocalyptic rave. The catchy vocal deliveries continue into 'Slow Motion' is heavily reminiscent of last year's Scissor Sisters effort with its in-your-face disco-funk riffs and pretty standard (disappointingly so for them) tune. Again, 'Static on the Wire' is more of the same: by any means good modern-day disco-pop, but just not as explorative or instantaneously grabbing as others. And by the time you reach closer 'Some Children' comes around you're left with a nagging feeling that this disco has been a little shortlived - for again, whilst there's a pretty nifty rhythm on display, the tune leaves much to be desired.



It's a strange album - it feels much shorter than 49 minutes and I've had it on repeat for a while now. Whilst I could sit and moan about its pitfalls and a couple of weak tracks, they have pulled off what most popular electronic duos I outlined in the first paragraph can not - a strong, consistent, ambitious debut with a great number of potential singles that leave you wanting more.

Rating: 7/10
Highlights: Do It Again, It's Not Over, Wait and See, Say My Name
Avoid: Hold My Breath