With the release of their 2011 self-titled debut, 2013’s Dynamics through renowned indie dance label DFA Records and their 2015 self-released remix album, Work For Hire, the NYC-based electro funk/neo-disco production and artist duo Holy Ghost!, comprised of Alex Frankel and Nicholas Millhiser have seen a growing national and international profile. And as a result, the duo have remixed the work of Katy Perry, LCD Soundsystem, Moby and a lengthy list of others; made national TV appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Late Show with David Letterman; toured with the legendary New Order; and played sets at some of this country’s and the world’s biggest festivals including Coachella, Outside Lands, Primavera Sound and Bonnaroo.
April 29, 2016 will mark the release of the Crime Cutz EP through DFA Records, and the EP’s first single and title track “Crime Cutz” will further cement the duo’s reputation for crafting slickly produced retro-futuristic electronic funk as the duo pairs shimmying synths, early 80s hip-hop break beats, undulating and swirling 8 bit electronics and a sinuous bass line paired with ethereal yet sensually cooed vocals. Sonically, the song seems to draws so much influence from Herbie Hancock’s “Rockit,” that it sounds as though it could easily back in 1983. Certainly, if you were alive then — as I was — you can almost picture a group of kids breakdancing in the street, as they were playing the song on an enormous boombox.
The recently released video for the song features a multi-panel primary color light display, made out of colored plexiglass, plywood and 224 standard light bulbs (7 bulbs per panel) which was hand-built and programmed by Milhiser and Frankel for less than $500 and runs on a midi-controlled power supply. As you’ll see in the video, the light boxes are synchronized with the song, and it creates a trippy effect reminiscent of the old game Simon.