Biography
From its very first, unreleased recordings—which drew upon musicians associated with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, TV on the Radio, L'Trimm, Calla, Mooney Suzuki, Oakley Hall, Antibalas, the Dap-Kings, Diamond Nights, Persephone's Bees, Si*Sé, and Apollo Heights—the Phenomenal Handclap Band sparked immediate speculation regarding its substantial promise and roster of skilled participants. Daniel Collás and Sean Marquand, a pair of underground club DJs harboring production ambitions, established the New York collective. Operating initially as Embassy Sound Productions, the duo honed their studio skills by crafting material for established soul artists Joe Bataan and União Black. Positive response to these efforts enabled Collás and Marquand to assemble what amounted to an underground soul and indie pop supergroup. Following multiple recording sessions and the selection of a fresh moniker along with a stable lineup consisting of Patrick Wood, Luke O'Malley, Laura Marin, Bing Ji Ling, Pier Pappalardo, and Joan Tick, select tracks reached online audiences. The material, characterized by its polished funky rhythms and evocation of 1960s and 1970s musical aesthetics, attracted the notice of Truth & Soul, which issued a 7" single during April 2009. Later that year the self-titled full-length appeared on Friendly Fire, receiving a 2010 reissue via Tummy Touch. Also in 2010, the remix collection titled Remixes surfaced amid rising interest fueled by online commentators and the ensemble’s engaging performances. Subsequent to Joan Tick’s departure, the band tracked its sophomore effort, Form & Control, within the historic confines of London’s RAK Studios, with Tummy Touch handling its early 2012 release.
Albums
Singles
