Phenomenal Handclap Band - PHB Loves NYC (Tummy Touch)

Always at the forefront of innovation, the Tummy Touch label continues their alliance with New York-based psych-rock-dance-soul sensation Phenomenal Handclap Band. The band’s anticipated remix album PHB Loves NYC will, without a shadow of a doubt, help make summer ’13 one to remember. Since their humble beginnings - comprised of founding members Daniel Collas and Sean Marquand - the band has snowballed in size and popularity. In 2008 Patrick Wood, Luke Riverside, Laura Marin, Bing Ji Ling, Pier Pappalardo, and Joan Tick joined the band and by 2012 they had released their second full-length album, Form and Control. PHB Loves NYC follows this with remixes by ten DJ / producers working in the NYC scene as the band pays loving homage to the vibrant club culture forever entrenched in richness of their city.

Included are remixes from hometown heroes Dennis “Citizen” Kane, DJ Spun, Tokyo Black Star, and Max Pask (aka Maxime). Characterized by heavy-handed guitar strings and a mounting anticipation, seminal house head Dennis Kane turns in a dreamily meandering rendition of “All Clichés” while Rong Records honcho and close DFA affiliate DJ Spun effects a lighter, buoyant tonality with his carefree version of “Shake.” Marrying elements of indie and disco in perfect stride, “Shake” is quintessential listening for crossover fans of what’s been recently termed ‘indie dance.’ Another example of the kind of exquisite diversity one can expect from this pack of summer tunes comes from DJ / production outfit Tokyo Black Star. Split between Tokyo and New York, Alex Prat and Isao Kumano’s plunging take on “The Right One” is as catchy as it is galactic with its robotic-sounding backdrop and misty vocals. Next, vinyl guru and party promoter Max Pask does what he does best handing over a sleek brooding adaptation of “Mirrors.” Like much of this release, “Mirrors” mixes ingredients from all corners of the disco, house, and indie continuums.

Sit back, relax, and let Phenomenal Handclap Band take you out for an unforgettable night in New York.

Tensnake - “Nice remixes from one of my favorite albums of the year!”
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - “Wonderful!”
Erik Rug - “I’m really into the DJ Spun and Maxime remixes … I’ll play this!”
Greg Wilson - “Really good!”
Sleazy McQueen - “I’m lovin the Mondee Oliver samples in DJ Spun’s remix … yeah!”
Bill Brewster (djhistory.com) - “The DJ Spun and Dennis Kane mixes the picks for me … both are really nice.”
The Glimmers - “Love it!”
LawnChair Generals - “Shake! Shake! Shake! DJ Spun delivers on this one!”
Irregular Disco Workers - “The Tokyo Black Star Remix is amazing!”
DJ Sabo (Sol*Selectas) - “Cool remixes with nice vintage sounds.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) - “A wonderful, inventive stash of remixes here.”
Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) - “I’m a big fan of PHB. Every track is a winner here.”
Richard Hardcastle (Solid State / All Out War) - “This EP means business from bar one. I’m going for DJ Spun’s mix as my fave but all are brilliant and all are completely different treatments. The sh*t, basically.”
Bootsy (For The Love Radio Show, UK) - “Great remixes of one of my favorite bands. Maxime’s remix of ‘Mirrors’ is my pick. DJ Spun’s mix of ‘Shake’ a close second.”
Black Alley (In Control Radio Show) - “Maxime’s ‘Mirrors’ remix is sooo my vision of a deep and sexy night in NYC.”

Available now from iTunes, Amazon, Juno Download, and the Tummy Touch Bandcamp store.

Phenomenal Handclap Band - Shake EP (Tummy Touch)

The Phenomenal Handclap Band are pleased to present their new Shake EP. Featuring album stand-outs “Shake" and "Give,” and featuring the new song “Radio Girls" as well as an exclusive ‘Spanish Version' of “Written Word,” the EP displays PHB’s dance-floor credentials with equal helpings of 80’s disco, Blondie, and Tom Tom Club.

The new album Form & Control released last month on Tummy Touch is an ambitious work which takes their clever fusion of international psych, soul, and cosmic disco a bold step forward. The band – or self-styled collective – broke through in 2009 with their debut single “15 To 20,” a club hit both in America and Europe that set the scene for an eponymous debut album later that year. But when Form & Control hits your deck or laptop, you need to reconfigure expectations. Their sound and style has physical and spiritual roots in New York and San Francisco, Sao Paulo and London. Imagine a scenario where Curtis Mayfield and Deee-Lite threw a Nu-Yorican party with Afro-beat, Italo-disco, Turkish psych, ‘70s West Coast rock, and Boney M also on the decks. Kaleidoscopic or what?

"A brilliant synthesis of classic ’80s house, italo-disco, Afro funk, kosmische and feel- good, psychedelic pop."

Aeroplane - “Surprising EP … I love it!”
JD Twitch (Optimo) - “Great EP. So much good stuff going on.”
Erol Alkan - “‘Give’ is the best of a cool package.”
Ivan Smagghe - “Great band, and great label after all these years.”
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “Good fun here .. I like the B52s-ish vibe of ‘Radio Girls.’”
Sleazy McQueen - “Ooo, this sounds great.”
Recloose - “‘Give’ has got the magic bump!”
Stevie Kotey (Bear Funk) - “Classy stuff, full support.”
Johnwaynes - “Timeless!”
Fort Knox Five - “Dope, as usual from Tummy Touch.”
Space Ranger - “This is the bomb, love it.”
Irregular Disco Workers - “When indie meets disco the fusion is so amazing. Great work!”
Stereo 77 (Filtered Sunshine) - “A very eclectic collection that can rock the dance floor.”
Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) - “Another grest release from Phenomenal Handclap Band, one of my favorite groups at the moment.”
Charlie Wild (Mixtape Riot) - ” Always glad to hear new material from these guys! ‘Give’ is definitely going into rotation.”
Erik The Red (Giant Step) - “Gonna smash this over the heads of some brooklynites manana!”

Available now from iTunes.

The Phenomenal Handclap Band - Following (Tummy Touch) →

On the heels of their US tour opening for the legendary Bryan Ferry who talks about them as his new favorite band, The Phenomenal Handclap Band have released “Following” – the first single off their forthcoming new album, Form & Control, out February 14th via Tummy Touch Records. The track finds the group taking the next step forward from the cosmic disco-funk and international, psychedelic soul of their critically acclaimed debut album.

The band – or self-styled collective – broke through in 2009 with their debut single “15 To 20,” a club hit both in America and Europe that set the scene for a self-titled debut album later that year. Their sound and style had roots in New York and San Francisco, Sao Paulo and London, some physical and others more spiritual. But imagine a scenario where Curtis Mayfield and Deee-Lite threw a Nu-Yorican party with Afro-beat, Italo-disco, Turkish psych, ‘70s West Coast rock and Boney M also on the decks. Kaleidoscopic or what?

But when Form & Control hits your deck or laptop, you need to reconfigure expectations. Imagine The Human League, MGMT, Fleetwood Mac, Black Devil Disco Club, Justice, Hercules & Love Affair, Blondie, and The Steve Miller Band produced by Mike Chapman at London’s legendary RAK Studios, home of prime slices of ‘70s glam, soul and disco. In other words, a sleek and shimmering alternative to the first album’s spicier mutant stew, but just as groovy.

”Following" was written in NYC while dancing at David Mancuso’s legendary Loft Party and inspired by the sounds of Human League, Chic, and Fern Kinney. Sean Marquand, writer and co-producer of the song, recalls: "At a truly great dance party, there is a moment when you can feel a certain energy take off in the room. You can look around and see that everyone is into the exact same thing at the exact same moment, it’s a unifying force. The song is directed toward all of those who might want to join that moment and experience the same spirit."

Available now from iTunes