Phenomenal Prins

I first heard The Phenomenal Handclap Band about 15 years ago, one of many discoveries during the peak of the RCRD LBL free download era.

 

In that time, the Brooklyn band has released three albums, two remix collections and one unreleased digital-only covers album with Diane Birch, The Velveteen Age. 

 

The latter contains seven quite frankly unexpected takes on some indie/goth classics, which in principle I should vehemently dislike. I mean, a country disco version of Bring On The Dancing Horses? Atmosphere as an 80s teen movie end credits song? The trouble is, like PHB songs in general, they have a way of worming their way in and, have mercy, I like them.

 

15 To 20 was one of the first songs by The Phenomenal Handclap Band that I listened to and perhaps the epitome of their self-described "disco rock soul" sound, with a stylish video to boot. Here's a 2009 performance on KEXP to prove they had the musical chops to pull it off.

It was the double A-Side You'll Disappear that really got me though, in particular the remixes. The original version ploughs a rhythmic furrow with keyboard squelches, choral synths and vocals just on the right side of laid back, bordering on monotone. The single version comes in at just under four minutes, whilst the version on Side 2 of the eponymous debut album stretches the groove to six and a half minutes.

However, what Prins Thomas does with the song is, er, phenomenal. The percussion is beefed up, the circular synth lines are labelled "euphoric" and marked in neon yellow highlighter, whilst a scuzzy bass line underpins the lot. And it goes on for nearly thirteen minutes. And it still doesn't seem long enough. Stick to the end and you'll be rewarded with a nice little riff on this classic. 

Fast forward to March 2023 and The Phenomenal Handclap Band returned with their first single in nearly three years, Burning Bridges backed with It Was The Summer. Now a trio, sole founding member Daniel Collás with Juliet Swango and Monika Heidemann, sonically not a long has changed but in a good way. 

 

Whilst I'd stop short of the promo's description of Burning Bridges as "groundbreaking", it is undoubtedly a "hypnotic post-disco pop gem". 

Even better, PHB are reunited with Prins Thomas for a remix that is more Los Angeles than New York (or Oslo, for that matter), letting the song bake in the Californian sunshine, cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway heading to Mendocino County. Though I'm sure it'll work just as well heading from Bristol to Newport across the Severn Bridge on a rainy day. I just give it a try sometime soon.

 

Whilst you're checking out the Burning Bridges EP on Bandcamp, there are plenty of other PHB releases to browse, buy and banish the winter blues.