Albums to watch

Form & Control

The Phenomenal Handclap Band

Form & Control

This New York psychedelic soul troupe return with their sophomore effort

ADM rating[?]

5.5

Label
Tummy Touch
UK Release date
13/02/2012
US Release date
14/02/2012
  1. 8.0 |   Q

    Punchier, grander and more focused than their 2009 debut. Print edition only

  2. 7.0 |   All Music

    Push play on the oddly named N.Y.C.-based Phenomenal Handclap Band's sophomore release and be transported back to the early-'80s dance-art-pop glory days of the Human League, OMD, and Heaven 17, among many others
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  3. 6.5 |   Paste Magazine

    These guys live and breathe groove
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  4. 6.5 |   BBC

    Ultimately, Form & Control serves it purpose as a ready-made playlist for your next party, but perhaps the band’s oversimplifying of its sound has stripped away some of its mystique in the process
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  5. 6.0 |   PopMatters

    As sophomore efforts go, Form & Control is a great success. It proves that PHB is capable of more and has higher aspirations – but it still leaves the door open for the group to move in different directions
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  6. 6.0 |   Blurt

    Exhibits a duality that splits the difference in the disparity of the Clap's soulful psych-pop/dance club fusion
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  7. 6.0 |   Uncut

    All in all, it's a little too cool for its own good. James Levy and the Blood Red Rose

  8. 6.0 |   The Guardian

    On Form & Control, they stick to a conventional disco/funk template and frost it with stomping electro-pop
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  9. 6.0 |   DIY

    The funky basslines and drum break beats are all in place; however, there seems to be a spark missing and all too often the songs fail to truly take off after promising starts
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  10. 5.2 |   Beats Per Minute

    It’s a polite album, full of immaculately produced tracks and a handful of solid numbers amidst a lot of 120bpm dance floor filler
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  11. 5.0 |   Rave Magazine

    Greater people have tried and failed to merge disco, funk, hard rock guitars and psychedelia together into a satisfying release. The Phenomenal Handclap Band don’t fail so much as you suspect they barely even tried
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  12. 5.0 |   Consequence Of Sound

    As retro as ever
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  13. 4.2 |   Pitchfork

    Hardly a song on Form & Control goes substantially beyond the four-minute mark, and yet the whole album drags
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  14. 4.0 |   NME

    More stodge than sleekness
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  15. 2.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    The faceless and glossily produced Form & Control is devoid of any real soul
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