You know how once in a while a new band comes along that you immediately feel all evangelical about and make you want to share the love with everybody? Well that's how I'm feeling right now about New York's The Phenomenal Handclap Band. As well as having a truly fabulous name, the music shows a quite incredible range of influences and an array of diverse flavours, from the sweet soul of Baby, psych-rock and funk on Testimony, more straight-up dancefloor-orientated disco on You'll Disappear, right through to the BelleStars-meets-The Go! Team playground chants of 15-20. The album's out in July, apparently and I can't wait to hopefully see them live before too long. See what you think; I love 'em!
THE FOLLOWING MP3s ARE JUST SO YOU CAN HEAR QUITE HOW BLOODY MARVELLOUS THIS BAND ARE. PLEASE SUPPORT THE PHENOMENAL HANDCLAP BAND BY BUYING THEIR RECORD FROM I-TUNES, AMAZON, OR, BETTER STILL, A PROPER RECORD SHOP LIKE PICCADILLY RECORDS IN MANCHESTER.
**edit, Blimpy here, I removed all but one of the songs by polite request of the band**
Baby
18 comments:
They've certainly given themselves quite a name to live up to!
My all time top 5 best handclaps in popular music:
1. "Unsquare Dance" = Dave Brubeck
2. "Mickey" - Toni Basil
3. "I Wanna Be Sedated"- Ramones
4. "You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve" - Johnny Boy
5. "Punka" - Kenickie
I won't be able to listen to this until later, but it immediately made me think of Steve Reich's "Clapping Music"!
I'm liking this.
One of my favourite handclap songs is this, which you must already know:
http://www.imeem.com/people/Ez0AnOw/music/_eMIfz8l/the-new-york-community-choir-express-yourself/
I like this...especially Baby and 15-20. And of course my fav handclapping song is Clap Your Hands. Or the song that it samples...
Sean from the PH Band emailed and asked if we could just have one mp3 rather than four - BaBe could you edit the post please.
He did say that they're really pleased we like their music.
And that's EXACTLY how it should be done, well done to the PHB, I might buy the album just because of that.
And that's EXACTLY how it should be done, well done to the PHB, I might buy the album just because of that.
Hi BaBe - I had to edit your post - soz! Hope u don't mind!
I agree with you Ejay - they asked nicely, and I know they understand the whole blogosphere thang.
Well done that band!
Seriously impressed by that, and I liked all the tunes until three got CRUELLY RIPPED DOWN. There's something a bit more than the usual going on back there. And yes, great name, too.
My all-time handclap song -
"You Took the Words Right Out of my Mouth", Meat Loaf. Oh yeah.
I haven't even listened but I'm going to buy it on principle. Top marks PHB.
Reallyreallyreallyreally like that song, so went looking (they have myspace etc) - and they're playing London in July, you lucky people!
@ Blimpy
Thanks for doing that. I've been out doing my radio show (played 15-20, PHBers!)and have just seen this. Blimey, that's two removals in one day; don't think I'll be posting any more tunes up for a while!
As everyone's said, full marks to the PHB for taking such a lovely attitude to it. It just makes me love them more and I'm glad they appreciate the desire to want to spread the word about their great music.
Glad you guys are liking them too. As I said at the start of the post, I do get a bit over-excited when I hear something as good as this and want to let the whole world know. Being new to this whole blogging mallarkey, it's been an eye-opener today as to quite how out in the open anything you post up on here is; not like the message boards I usually go on. I'm just pleased that they understand it's done with a good heart. Big up the Phenomenal Handclap Band!
ps Close To Me by The Cure gives good handclap.
I liked 15-20 best. Baby is sweet, if I can say that without it sounding like damning-with-faint-praise (which it isn't).
Probably wouldn't have bought the album, but will do so on principle now!
Then I'm going to smack Google round the face with it, each blow landing, in a manic Dennis Hopper stylee, on each syllable of the sentence "Now .. see .. what .. you .. get .. if .. you .. ask .. nice .. ly?!"
Well now I've listened to the one remaining track and I'm definitely going to buy!
Not sure if they are available in the US yet, but will also be buying unheard on principle. If they don't have a US deal already would a 'Spillharmonic signing be out of the question, or is there something else we could do for them?
'Fraid they're already signed up, Shoey, on Friendly Fire Recordings (on Tummy Touch Records in the UK)
More info and some tracks to stream here:
http://www.myspace.com/phenomenalhandclap
Ooooooh, that sounds good after an emotional day. Another fan-by-principle too, good on 'em.
Put me down for a bit of The 'Knick too.
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