Review: Holy Ghost! – Dynamics
I think Brooklyn’s Holy Ghost! need a change of name: Crazy Ghost!, or maybe Low Pass Filter Ghost!…. hmmm perhaps even Sexy As Fuck Ghost! Yes I said it, I think their music is sexy as fuck. What can I say, with a track called ‘I Wanna Be Your Hand’ they’re just asking for it, even from the mildest of dirty minds.
So, what did we love about this duo the first time around with their self-titled debut? We loved their chaotic kaleidoscope-approach to electronic sounds, we loved their ultra-elegance, and we absolutely adored their knack for effortlessly keeping a listener on the tips of their feet. Now, with new album Dynamics taking centre stage, it can be happily announced that HG! have not disappointed audiences with their follow up. The album is crammed full of 80s reminiscent tracks that will make you want to shake yo’ ass like a bowl full of jelly. The album’s combination of dirty synth riffs and catchy vocal hooks mean, for anyone who’s a fan of the likes of Hot Chip and LCD Sound System, this album will hit just the spot.
If you’ve ever YouTube’d an interview with electro-pop’s Canadian pixie, Grimes (which I have), you’ll know that she absolutely loves to use the word ‘vapid’ to describe a lot of crap music around at the moment. She is quick to make a point about how profound her music is to her; the sounds have depth and layers, and her lyrics are held close to her heart. I think the same essence is present here with HG!’s new tracks. It’s exciting and dancey without being “vapid” or mindless.
Electronic artists often settle for any pre-set sounds they find on computer software, causing the music to sound just like everything else out there. HG! have not cut any corners when it comes to electronic sounds on the tracks, the band having made a point out of testing and experimenting with sounds; they reportedly even said that they recorded drums up to 5 times on some tracks just to get it right. Most importantly, it doesn’t feel as if HG! are trying to cater to an audience, they’ve just made music they wanted to make, and it shows in the eating of this extra saucy audible pudding. Dynamics has that same integrity that Grimes would salute.
Conclusion: go buy the album.
– George Palmer
