The Phenomenal Handclap Band - The Phenomenal Handclap Band [Album]

Friendly Fire Recordings / Tummy Touch Records

September 1, 2009, 08:59 PM

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In 1974 after five years dedicated to fusing the musical sub-cultures of New York City, The Phenomenal Handclap Band recorded this self-titled album as a culmination and a document of that mission. The recording was then sealed in a time-capsule not to be opened for twenty five years. So now here at last in 2009 is the first chance to listen to the fruits of their labours.

None of this is true. Except that The Phenomenal Handclap Band hail from New York.

Other than the shiny production job, it really does sound as though this album was really made between the years of 1969 and 1974. The band are a shifting collective (with resumes as diverse as TV on the Radio, Antibalas and the Dap Kings) formed around New York City Club DJs/Producers Daniel Collas and Sean Marquand. Together they manage to fuse early disco, psychedelic soul, latin boogaloo and soft rock and serve it up with a dash of jam band mysticism.

Opener 'Journey to Serra Da Estrela' shows you the way that this self titled album is going to be - a six minute instrumental slow-simmer that mixes the Ohio Players with Santana with a touch of sci-fi synthesizers added into the mix. Other songs pull the same trick of reminding you of other (70s and 80s) artists without feeling too much like pastiche or rip-off. 'Give It A Rest' is Steely Dan playing Spirit’s 'Fresh Garbage' as produced by Giorgio Moroder; the prog-funk (no really) of 'Testimony' is Sly Stone’s take on Camel. Somehow they manage to dabble in the familiar, even the clichéd, and stay just the right side of cheesy.

There are a handful of great songs on here but also some less vital ones and some instrumental passages that drift on a bit too much. The two stand-out songs for me are '15 to 20', the ridiculously catchy double-dutch counting song (very NYC), and 'I’ve Been Born Again' a jazzy euphoric chant not unlike The Polyphonic Spree making a space-disco record. These two are highly recommended tracks and should undoubtedly be your starting point for listening.

I first heard The Phenomenal Handclap Band album on a lazy, sunny Mediterranean beach where time was of no consequence - and it made perfect sense. Listening to it again back in the wind and rain of dear old "Blightly" I have less patience for its spacious groove over the full 66 minute duration. I suspect live that it might be another matter but on record I am only partially won over - until I can get back to that warm summer sunshine or to New York City that is.

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