Ghost Against Ghost is the electronic-rock project and concept created by producer and composer Christopher Bono. Established in 2008, the project draws inspiration from a diverse array of musical styles, including conceptual, progressive, post, and psychedelic rock, as well as art-rock, ambient, experimental, and both contemporary and common-practice classical music. Bono's artistic vision is further influenced by the anarchic ideas of the late Leo Tolstoy, dystopian narratives, and neo-romanticism. The inception of Ghost Against Ghost was sparked by a dream Bono had while living in Brooklyn, which led him to begin work on a two-hour concept album that remains unfinished.
To realize his vision, Bono gathered a group of electro-acoustic musicians and began performing in New York City and Brooklyn. The project quickly gained a reputation for its extended multimedia performances that seamlessly blended “song-oriented-but-stylistically-out-there” compositions with open noise, electronic, and ambient improvisations.
As he began preparing for the first Ghost Against Ghost album in 2008, Bono grew increasingly dissatisfied with the initial sound of the project. Driven by persistent visions and auditory hallucinations, he entered a period of near-hermetic isolation that lasted seven years, during which he sought to develop the technical skills needed to translate his internal messages into music. This introspective journey unexpectedly led him to study classical music at the age of 27, as he searched for clarity in his sonic explorations.
Bono reflected on this experience, stating, “I could see the sounds, like a massive and extraordinarily complex piece of architecture, or some sort of alien, psychic sculpture, but I did not know how to realize it technically. … Until I heard Stravinsky.” Under the guidance of classical composers, including Stravinsky and Bach, as well as various contemporary figures, Bono began to uncover the elements necessary to define the Ghost Against Ghost sound.
Over a span of five years, Bono released two classical albums and an EP, all of which received critical acclaim. While managing these projects and various commissions, he continued to refine the Ghost Against Ghost material in secret. After completing his last album, BARDO, Bono shifted his focus back to Ghost Against Ghost. He emerged from years of study and isolation equipped with the melodic and rhythmic understanding essential for contextualizing his work, resulting in a richly woven sonic tapestry that blends modern studio production, mixing, engineering, and electronics.
The first official release from Ghost Against Ghost was the ambitious 15-minute piece titled "Checkpoint Charlie," which was complemented by an award-winning music video directed by filmmaker Craig Murray. The project's inaugural full-length album, still love, was released in April 2017 and garnered positive reviews, including remarks such as:
"Cathartic soul-bearing space prog masterwork." -- Prog Magazine
"Still Love is a mighty work of art that juxtaposes pop-sensitivity with an intense listening experience." - Arctic Drones
“Evokes a wide array of inspirations to create a vast and intense field of sounds. Bono constructs a darkly spiritual aura in this post-rock inspired composition." - Stereogum
"Ghost Against Ghost's New Song 'Resume' Is A Slow-Moving, Cinematic Destroyer." - Metal Injection
The track "Unarm" from the still love album also featured a music video by Craig Murray.
In 2018, Bono released a new single titled "Todeserfahrung." Currently, he is back in the studio working on a new conceptual Ghost Against Ghost album, which is slated for release in 2020.
