Together they have crafted a sound that is equal parts anthemic, dancefloor-oriented and orchestral, borrowing elements from progressive rock, disco, electro, and psychedelia.
The Phenomenal Handclap Band started when Collás and Marquand, two New York underground club DJs, became restless with the concept of playing other people's music. Both had also been involved in the thriving nightlife scene, and had an almost encyclopedic knowledge of esoteric music ranging from Brazilian soul to vintage psych-rock, so becoming producers seemed to be the next logical step.
After working with a wide range of artists, from veteran soul acts to up-and-coming rock n' rollers, the duo set their sights on The Phenomenal Handclap Band, a supergroup comprised of various luminaries of the indie rock and underground soul scenes. The resulting self-titled debut is the harmonious culmination of numerous diverse musical backgrounds, as well as a testament to Collás’ and Marquand’s singular musical vision.
The album begins with the meditative strains of the epic "Journey to Serra da Estrela" which erupts into a driving synthesized force, and foreshadows the arrival of "Testimony", in which Jaleel Bunton (TV on the Radio) provides a fiery psychedelic guitar backdrop for Aurelio Valle's (Calla) voodoo incantations. Carol C (Sí Se) lends her considerable vocal talents to "You'll Disappear", a cosmic disco floor-filler that sets the stage for The Lady Tigra's (L'Trimm) jump-rope rhymes on the soon-to-be classic summer jam, "15 to 20".
Live, The Phenomenal Handclap Band is distilled to an eight-member powerhouse, an eye-popping spectacle that overwhelms the senses. It pulses with a savage rhythm section that provides the ultimate foil for cascading guitars and electrified washes of organ and synthesizers. Their delirious sermonizing whips crowds into a charismatic frenzy. Needless to say, their live shows are more akin to a spiritual church revival than an actual rock show.
The Phenomenal Handclap Band’s self-titled debut album is being released by the acclaimed Brooklyn indie label Friendly Fire Recordings on June 23, 2009.
Baby
The Phenomenal Handclap Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They took her away, away from me
The KKK took my baby away
They took her away, away from me
She went away for the holidays
Said, she's going to L.A.
She never got there, she never got there
She never got there, they say
Said, she's going to L.A.
She never got there, she never got there
She never got there, they say
The KKK took my baby away
They took her away, away from me
The KKK took my baby away
They took her away, away from me
I don't know where my baby, can be
They took her from me they took her from me
I don't know where my baby, can be
They took her from me they took her from me
Bring me up the president
Find out where my baby went
Bring me up the FBI
Find out if my baby's alive
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
She went away for the holidays
Said, she's going to L.A.
She never got there, she never got there
She never got there, they say
She went away for the holidays
Said, she's going to L.A.
She never got there, she never got there
She never got there, they say
The KKK took my baby away
They took her away, away from me
The KKK took my baby away
They took her away, away from me
The Phenomenal Handclap Band’s “Baby” is a poignant song about a man who has lost his significant other to the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). The lyrics are simple and straightforward, but reveal a deep sense of betrayal and loss. The repetition of the lines “The KKK took my baby away/They took her away, away from me” creates a haunting effect and highlights the injustice and brutality of the situation. The man is left feeling helpless and confused, not knowing where his partner could be. He tries reaching out to those in power, as seen by the lyrics “Bring me up the president/Find out where my baby went/Bring me up the FBI/Find out if my baby's alive”. However, it’s unclear if he ever receives any help or closure.
The verse “She went away for the holidays/Said, she's going to L.A./She never got there, she never got there/She never got there, they say” suggests that the woman was targeted while traveling, possibly on her way to Los Angeles. The holiday season is typically a time for family and loved ones to reunite, making the loss even more tragic. The repetition of “they say” underscores the ambiguity and uncertainty of the situation. The song ends with a final chorus of “The KKK took my baby away/They took her away, away from me”, emphasizing the man’s unresolved grief and the enduring impact of this senseless act of violence.
Line by Line Meaning
The KKK took my baby away
An unknown person or group has taken the singer's significant other away from them and the KKK is being used as a metaphor for their actions.
They took her away, away from me
The person or group responsible for taking the singer's significant other has physically removed them from the singer's life.
She went away for the holidays
The singer's significant other left to spend time away from the singer during the holiday season.
Said, she's going to L.A.
The singer's significant other mentioned that they were going to Los Angeles as their holiday destination.
She never got there, she never got there
The singer's significant other did not arrive at their expected destination.
She never got there, they say
It is rumored or speculated that the singer's significant other did not make it to their intended destination.
I don't know where my baby, can be
The singer is expressing uncertainty about their significant other's current location or state of being.
They took her from me they took her from me
The singer emphasizes that their significant other was taken away from them against their will.
Bring me up the president
The singer is asking for assistance from the President of the United States in locating their missing significant other.
Find out where my baby went
The singer is requesting that someone discover the whereabouts of their missing significant other.
Bring me up the FBI
The singer is asking for assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in locating their missing significant other.
Find out if my baby's alive
The singer is concerned about the welfare of their missing significant other and wants to know if they are still alive.
Writer(s): Marvin Isley, Shaffer Smith, John David Jackson, Daniel Collas, O'kelly Isley, Chris Jasper, Ronald Isley, Stevie Wonder, Derryck Thornton, Rudolph Isley, Christopher Wallace, Susaye Greene, Ernie Isley
Contributed by Max W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.