Tag Archives: Holy Ghost!

Alex Frankel Still Got It

Alex Frankel (Holy Ghost!) released his Still Got It EP with two remixes by France’s Breakbot (La Fiesta Remix and Club des Vedettes Remix), a Choices Remix and the instrumental version of the single. Earlier Alex Frankel shared the video for “Still Got It”, an anthem for embracing the next step whatever it may be, all out now on CASUAL / Ed Banger. Alex celebrates everybody’s return to the dancefloor with a wildly fun video that finds him dancing outside some of France’s iconic dance clubs and reveling in front of party flyers. The photos of French club exteriors featured in the video were pulled from Prost’s book After Party. He teamed up with motion designer Dixsaut to turn them into the dance party on the streets the video invites us to join.

“Still Got It” is a glimpse into Alex’s world as he works towards a full length in 2022.

“Still Got It” finds joy in resilience and celebrates the personal spark each of us has that fortifies our optimism even in hardship. It’s a quick glance back while dancing into the future that invites everyone, “Let’s have a toast to staying young as we get old”. The song plays with some of the hallmarks of classic 80s pop and reimagines them for this moment, with a wave of euphoria that keeps rising as it builds from just Alex’s voice to a choral arrangement performed by the East Coast Inspirational Singers choir. 

The Breakbot remix of “Still Got It” (Breakbot Club des Vedettes Remix) was shared by Adult Swim Singles as part of their 2021 program, and puts a playful and synthy spin on the single. The rework, by French electronic mainstay Breakbot, is especially fitting as the original single marked Alex’s initial release for Ed Banger, rendering him the first American signee to the legendary European label. Listen to it here. Alex also shared a celebratory new DJ mix last week on Magnetic Magazine to kick off the summer with his blend of house, funk and disco. 

Alex says of the songs origins, “I played the demo for Thibaut ( Breakbot) one night at Bernie’s Restaurant while we were outside on a smoke break  (back when, you know… people still ate dinner out) and on the spot he demanded we go try it on the audience at his gig that night. The response was great and after that, I knew I had to finish it. I called the East Coast Inspirational Singers, my favorite gospel group in NYC and they came by to help me get it there.”

Alex Frankel first emerged as one half of beloved NYC duo Holy Ghost! whose hybrid of synth pop, disco, and a range of electronic music made them an international dancefloor and festival staple. Along with their own albums and EPs for DFA and West End, the group have been in demand remixers sought out by their peers like LCD Soundsystem, Phoenix, and Cut Copy. Alex has also done remixes for US Girls, Naeem, Neon Indian and Moby.

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New Music From Holy Ghost!

Photo: Harry McNally

Crafting each sound from scratch with unapologetic, exacting precision, Holy Ghost!’s penchant for in-the-studio perfectionism has delivered hit after hit to the dancefloor. This analog approach to “electronic” music heavily informs the band’s third album Work coming June 21, 2019 on West End Records.

Available for pre-order todayWork features the brand new song “Escape From Los Angeles”(out today) plus previously released songs Anxious” and “Epton On Broadway (Part I & Part II)”. It follows the group’s two previous albums, 2013’s Dynamics and 2011’s eponymous debut (both via DFA) and isfirst full-length LP to come out on the iconic West End Records label in more than 30-years!

A return to the heady ethos that drove Holy Ghost!’s earliest releases, Work sees New York City natives Alex Frankel and Nick Millhiser revisit the freedom from expectations that suffused their 2011 self-titled debut full-length. It was a situation that stemmed partly from circumstances: They dismantled their basement Brooklyn studio and moved to a small room that a few musician friends were renting above a doctor’s office (incidentally the same address where they mixed Holy Ghost!). Due to space limitations, they pared their extensive gear collection down to just two synths, a Yamaha CS80 and a Mini Moog. “Not necessarily the bare necessities, but what would make for the most interesting limited palette,” says Millhiser. “David Bowie didn’t have every fucking synthesizer on earth to make Low. He had two. And that’s one of my favorite synth records of all time.”

The 12-song collection features the buoyant but bittersweet, “Do This” which interweaves ambient chatter from a studio session with a Nile Rodgers-esque guitar, “Nicky Buckingham’s” Fleetwood Mac-inspired riffs and swelling strings are eerily danceable, whereas “Heaven Knows What” – the band’s slowest track to date – showcases an emotional depth and range only hinted at in past releases. Featuring the talents of musical peers including Sinkane’s Ahmed Gallab, Juan Maclean and LCD Soundsystem’s Nancy Whang, Rob Moose (Bon Iver, Paul Simon, David Bowie) and Alex Epton (Neon Indian, David Byrne), Work transcends its physical constraints to capture a spectrum of vibes that remain true to Holy Ghost!’s reverence for the art and craft of dance music.

Work Tracklist:

Epton on Broadway Part I

Epton on Broadway Part II

Anxious

Heaven Knows What

Nicky Buckingham

Do This

One For Pete

My Happy House

Heaven Forbid

Soon

Slow Burn

Escape From Los Angeles

 

Upcoming Holy Ghost! Live Shows:

04-26 San Francisco, CA – The Independent

04-27 Los Angeles, CA – Globe Theatre

05-03 Washington, DC – U Street Music Hall

05-09 Guadalajara, México – Corona Capital at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez

06-21 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom (Album Release Show)

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Check ‘Em Out: Teeel

Teeel

Listen: Teeel – “Runners”

Check out this song, “Runners”, which is a new track from Teeel’s album Hydrostatic (out digitally now via Mush Records, followed by the physical release in November). “Runners” is the follow-up to Teeel’s first single “Disk Go”, which also has a super fun music video (see below).
On Hydrostatic, intricate synth and guitar work dance around bouncing basslines, laying foundation for an album full of vocal hooks. Teeel switches up styles from track to track, delivering dancefloor-ready grooves, dark washes of synthesized brooding, and pop hook after pop hook. If you dig folks like Holy Ghost! or Chromeo, you’ll probably love Teeel.

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Download: Midnight Magic – “Drop Me A Line” (Holy Ghost Remix)

Serving up a feast of funk, disco, electro and soul, Midnight Magic has unleashed banger after banger including their dancefloor smash, “Beam Me Up.” The Drop Me A Line single which features remixes from Holy Ghost, Juan Maclean and more was released last October and today the band has released the “Drop Me A Line” (Holy Ghost Remix) MP3 with RCRD LBL.

Listen/download: Midnight Magic – “Drop Me A Line” (Holy Ghost Remix)

Receiving accolades from Pitchfork to BrooklynVegan, for What The Eyes Can’t See, the nine-piece party powerhouse will perform live at Brooklyn Bowl on March 24th to celebrate the official release of the EP April 3 on Midnight Sounds. The special new package will feature several previously unreleased b-sides.

What The Eyes Can’t See EP Tracklist
1. What The Eyes Can’t See
2. Heat
3. Julio
4. Calling Out
5. Psycho For Your Love (Bonus)
6. Magic Midnight (Bonus)

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New Album: Juan Maclean – “Everybody Get Close”

 

Since the release of  2009’s The Future Will Come, John “Juan” Maclean has stayed quite busy remixing artists like Chairlift, Matthew Dear, The Tough Alliance and forthcoming remixes for Yoko Ono and Stevie Nicks. He’s also appeared on both the Holy Ghost! Static on the Wire! EP (shredding guitar solo!) and took front man duties on Shit Robot’s “Grim Receiver”. Juan Maclean is now gearing up for the October 25th release of Everybody Get Close on DFA Records. The digital only album features previously released outtakes and re-mastered tracks as well as remixes from some of his most talented colleagues. For an early taste of the record, you can listen where it is streaming on SPIN.com all week.

Stream album: Juan Maclean – Everybody Get Close

Interspersed among the eleven songs are five that originally appeared on Find A Way, an EP only previously available at Juan Maclean live shows. “Find A Way” opens the record with call-and-response vocals from Maclean and bandmate Nancy Whang atop an electronic pop base, followed by “Let’s Talk About Me,” which bounds blissfully throughout. “Deviant Device” is laden with dubby percussion and echo-drenched synths reminiscent of Basic Channel. “X2” offers up wide hall of house and robotized vocals. Short and sweet track “The Robot” is filled with mechanical sounds and extraterrestrial noises. “Feel So Good,” from the DJ-Kicks compilation also features vocals from Whang and is built on a rolling loop and an indefatigable beat provided by late drummer Jerry Fuchs. Japanese bonus track “When I Am With You” leisurely moves along on a relaxing romantic groove. Album closer and title track “Everybody Get Close” has mechanical vocals and funky synth bleats that show faint traces of major influences like Zapp and S.O.S. band, respectively.

Juan Maclean and Nancy Whang have begun work on The Juan Maclean’s 3rd LP for DFA Records. In the meantime the digital compilation Everybody Get Close, serves as a handy compilation and welcome reminder of the music Juan Maclean has contributed to both the dance and indie community. It also can only hint at what might come next from the chameleon-like Juan Maclean.

Download: Juan Maclean – “Find a Way”

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Free Download: Holy Ghost! – “Some Children”

Holy Ghost! are ready to kick off an extended touring schedule for the next few months and what better way to say bon voyage than by sharing their track “Some Children” featuring the lord of Yacht Rock, Mr. Michael McDonald.

And this fall marks Holy Ghost!’s FIRST EVER headlining tour in the US in support of their recently released and much-adored debut album Holy Ghost!. Having spent the last year supporting friends LCD Soundsystem, Chromeo and Cut Copy on the road, they are now topping the bill. The group will be joined by two very dynamic acts: Jessica 6 and Eli Escobar, who are going to be a perfect start to the party. A select handful of dates are below and more will be announced shortly!
You can also see them this summer on the Identity Festival Tour, which kicks off on August 11th and features artists as diverse as Booka Shade, Skrillex, Modeselektor and DJ Shadow. For the full list of cites and dates, and all other info please check out Identity Festival’s site.

Download: Holy Ghost! – “Some Children”

Watch the Adult Swim video

Holy Ghost! Headlining Tour
October 30 – Orono, ME @ University of Maine
October 31 – Montreal @ Belmount on the Blvd.
November 1 – Toronto @ 69 Bathurst
November 4 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
November 5 – Chicago, IL @ Double Dour
November 8 – Vancouver @ Fortune Club
November 12 – Mexico City @ One Music Festival (DJ Set)
November 17 – Austin, TX @ The Parish
November 19 – New Orleans @ The Parish at House of Blues

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IDENTITY Festival: $20 Tickets TODAY only

Skullcandy is bringing you $20 General Admission tickets to ANY of the IDentity Festival shows for 20 Hours this Wednesday, July 13th only!

Starting at 9am local time, you have only 20 hours to grab a ticket to any IDENTITY Festival show to see Kaskade, Pretty Lights, Steve Aoki, DJ Shadow, Avicii, Afrojack, Rusko, the Crystal Method, the Disco Biscuits, Steve Lawler and TONS MORE!

Go to the website for all the info you need

Cities where IDentity Fest is coming

 

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New Single: Holy Ghost! “Wait & See”

Click image to listen to "Wait & See"

NYC disco-pop stars Holy Ghost! are gearing up for the release of the debut album coming out on DFA Records, and wanted to share the their track “Wait & See” in anticipation. The single is going to be packaged with some amazing remixes which will be available for purchase digitally and on vinyl in early May. This giveaway is the second freebie from the album and comes after the ubiquitous track “Do It Again” which lit up the blogosphere. The self-titled album will be out exclusively on iTunes on April 5th and then available for wide release on April 12th. In the meantime, catch them live while they tour the US with Aussie pals Cut Copy!

North American Tour Dates (* w/ Cut Copy)
03/28 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade*

03/29 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club*

03/30 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club*

03/31 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero*

04/01 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5*

04/02 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5*

04/04 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues*

04/05 – Montreal, QC @ Club Soda*

04/07 – Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy*

04/08 – Chicago, IL @ Riviera*
04/09 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue*

04/12 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox Sodo*

04/16 – San Francisco, CA @ The Grand Ballroom*

04/17 – San Francisco, CA @ The Grand Ballroom*

04/18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex

04/20 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater*

04/21 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s*
04/22 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s*

04/23 – New Orleans, LA @ Republic*

04/29 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

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NEW Free Download: Holy Ghost! “Do It Again”

Holy Ghost!’s already ubiquitous track “Do It Again” is an amazing intro to the band’s catchy-as-hell self-titled debut album. The 10-song LP will include a few guest appearances from the likes of Luke Jenner from the Rapture, Chris Glover from Penguin Prison, and Michael McDonald…and yes, it is that Michael McDonald, formerly of The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan!
 
Known around the globe for their party starting singles and their unparalleled ability to get bodies moving on the dancefloor, Holy Ghost! have developed from an in demand DJ duo to a full live band crafting disco-tinged pop songs that satisfy equally on the dancefloor and in a car. 

After successful tours last year with LCD Soundsystem and Chromeo, the band will be heading out on a US tour with pals Cut Copy to bring their sounds of future pop to the masses. And these are not guilty pleasure pop tunes…Holy Ghost! makes pop cool.

Download “Do It Again” here

The album release date is April 12, but will be available via iTunes on April 5th!

Tracklisting
1. do it again
2. wait and 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
 
US Tour Dates w/ Cut Copy
03/28 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
03/29 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
03/31 – Philadelphia, PA – The Trocadero
04/01 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
04/02 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
04/04 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
04/05 – Montreal, QC – Club Soda
04/07 – Toronto, ON – Sound Academy
04/08 – Chicago, IL – Riviera
04/09 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
04/12 – Seattle, WA – Showbox Sodo
04/16 – San Francisco, CA – The Grand Ballroom
04/20 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
04/22 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s
04/23 – New Orleans, LA – Republic

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It’s For Real: Bike Jousting

Adult Swim’s Singles Program created a spectacular new video for the Holy Ghost! remix of LCD Soundsystem’s “Drunk Girls.” (Click the image above to watch the vid!) There’s bicycles, there’s jousting…and yes, people really do this! I’d like to make a sweet jousting outfit, that’s for sure!

Holy Ghost! Tour Dates with Chromeo  

07/23: Hartford, CT @ Bushnell Park Pavilion

07-26 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club 

07-27 Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero 

07-29 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom 

07-30 Boston, MA – House of Blues 

07-31 Montreal, Quebec – Metropolis 

08-02 Ottawa, Ontario – Capital Music Hall 

08-03 Toronto, Ontario – Phoenix 

08/04 New York, NY Central Park SummerStage
w/ Hot Chip and Hercules & Love Affair

08-05 Detroit, MI – Majestic 

08-07 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue 

08/08: Nelson, BC @ Shambhala

08-10 Calgary, Alberta – Flames Central 

08-11 Vancouver, British Columbia – Commodore 

08-12 Seattle, WA – Showbox Market 

08-13 Portland, OR – Roseland 

08-16 San Diego, CA – House of Blues 

08-20 Denver, CO – Ogden 

08-24 Austin, TX – Stubb’s 

08-25 Dallas, TX – Palladium 

08-26 Nashville, TN – Cannery Ballroom 

08-27 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade 

09-04 New York, NY – P.S. 1 w/ DJ Mehdi & Special Guests!

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