Not sure how I could have missed them when they played London earlier this month, but The Phenomenal Handclap Band are being hailed in knowing circles as this year's biggest musical secret.
A 'tight-knit aggregation of musicians and artists' from Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, the group began when two NY undeground club DJs, Daniel Collás and Sean Marquand, felt uneasy playing others' musical outputs - and so forged their own. Almost ten members strong on stage, they manage to combine the best elements of the last fifty years, but still sound utterly original: picking from Brazilian soul to vintage psych-rock, prog, disco and electro, their sound is both anthemic, orchestral and demands you on the dance floor.
They decided to create "the personification of their holy vision: a musical juggernaut" comprising of Patrick Wood, Nicholas Movshon, Luke O'Malley, Laura Marin, Bing Ji Ling, Pier Pappalardo and Joan Tick.
All 'luminaries' of the indie and soul scenes of New York, the combined brain power of The Phenomenal Handclap Band are one part 70s disco, another CSS - if they were playing the original Star Trek TV series, a dollop of Beck, plus the stage theatrics of Bat For Lashes. The sum of it's parts: 'more akin to a spiritual church revival than an actual rock show.' Praise be!
Their debut eponymous album, out now, is available to buy online at Tummy Touch Records.
Check out the video for new single 15 to 20 below, followed by You'll Disappear:
[Image: (C) FotonovaNYC/AlexSolmssen]