The last we heard from The Phenomenal Handclap Band, the New York City-based dance-pop outfit was collaborating with singer-songwriter Diane Birch on a covers EP. Since then, the band has toured with legend Bryan Ferry and been hard at work on their own new album. And while Form & Control, the follow-up to 2009’s debut self-titled LP, isn’t in stores till January, you can check out an exclusive first listen of the track called “Following” below.
Band co-founder Sean Marquand says the track was inspired by the sounds of Human League, Chic, and Fern Kinney. ”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 in to 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.”
After a spacey, vocodered start, “Following” breaks down into a solid, rhythmic pace with some decidedly New Wave influences. Take a deeper listen to the thud of the instrumentation and you may hear prog-pop and more modern dances tinges to the band’s newly-honed sound.
If you liked what you heard, you can also download your own copy of “Following” via the widget below.
Form & Control is due out on Janaury 31st, 2012 via Tummy Touch Records. Ahead of the release, The Phenomenal Handclap Band will play live at the Tummy Touch Records’ 15th Birthday concert at London’s XOYO on November 4th, and at New York City’s Hiro Ballroom on November 23rd.