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.
Remain Silent
The Phenomenal Handclap Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I put two and two together
But you can make it last forever
But a little bit might be better
I'm silence like a voice
Surrounding sirens, sound and noise
Count backwards slowly, start with ten
S-I-L-E-N-T
And you can end by leaving quietly
Well if you sing that song forever
The next time might be better
And all the fights you fought together
Failed to make a mark, so you're starting from the start
Now you're left second guessing
Running down the list
But nothing hit or miss could ever feel like this
Surrounding sirens and the noise
Sound of silence like a voice
R-E-M-A-I-N
Are we really down to now and then?
S-I-L-E-N-T
I'm not like that but I can try to be
R-E-M-A-I-N
Are we really down to now and then?
S-I-L-E-N-T
I'm not like that but I can try to be
Try to be, try to be, try to be
R-E-M-A-I-N
Are we really down to now and then?
S-I-L-E-N-T
I'm not like that but I can try to be
R-E-M-A-I-N
Are we really back to that again?
S-I-L-E-N-T
If you're not like that well you can try to be
Try to be, try to be, try to be
The lyrics of The Phenomenal Handclap Band's song "Remain Silent" speaks about the power of silence and the importance of letting go of past fights and starting anew. The opening lines, "Well, I know I'm not too clever. But I put two and two together", convey a sense of self-doubt and questioning, which sets up the theme of the song. The following line, "But you can make it last forever. But a little bit might be better" suggests that leaving space for silence in relationships can be more effective in keeping them alive rather than trying to hold onto them too tightly. The chorus "R-E-M-A-I-N, S-I-L-E-N-T" emphasizes the importance of remaining quiet while counting backwards and leaving quietly.
The second verse continues to emphasize the power of silence, stating that silence can be louder than any sound, referring to sirens and surrounding noise. The lyrics "Running down the list. But nothing hit or miss could ever feel like this" highlight the idea that trying to fix things after a fight might not always work as well as just being quiet and letting things be. The line "I'm not like that but I can try to be" indicates the willingness to change to make things work.
Overall, "Remain Silent" is a song about the beauty and power of silence and the importance of letting go of past hurts to start anew.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I know I'm not too clever
I am aware that I may not be very smart
But I put two and two together
However, I have deduced something
But you can make it last forever
Though, you have the power to make it go on indefinitely
But a little bit might be better
Perhaps a sprinkle would be preferable
I'm silence like a voice
I am quiet but yet present like a voice
Surrounding sirens, sound and noise
There are sounds all around me, like sirens and noises
R-E-M-A-I-N
Let's spell remain
Count backwards slowly, start with ten
Start counting down slowly, starting with the number 10
S-I-L-E-N-T
Now let's spell silent
And you can end by leaving quietly
You can depart quietly as well
Well if you sing that song forever
If you keep singing that song without end
The next time might be better
It could potentially be better the next time around
And all the fights you fought together
All the battles you fought alongside each other
Failed to make a mark, so you're starting from the start
Did not leave a notable impact, so you're back to the beginning
Now you're left second guessing
Now you are doubting yourself
Running down the list
Going through your options
But nothing hit or miss could ever feel like this
However, nothing haphazard could compare to this feeling
Surrounding sirens and the noise
Noises like sirens surround me
Sound of silence like a voice
But the sound of silence is like a voice
Are we really down to now and then?
Are we really reduced to just every now and then?
I'm not like that but I can try to be
I'm not typically like that, but I can attempt to be
Are we really back to that again?
Are we really back to that point again?
If you're not like that well you can try to be
If you aren't accustomed to it, you can make an attempt at it
Try to be, try to be, try to be
Try to be, attempt, try once more
Writer(s): Juliet Swango, Daniel Collas
Contributed by Kennedy H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@huggymoon
What a fantastic groove this is 😄👏🏻
@martinlemdub
This song is purely sensational !
@johno3672
monster
@annaverder5401
Weeeee yeah!!! 🎉🥳✌️🕺
@darkestship
Holy Toledo this is incredible!
@wolfieno5471
Whoa this is even greater than the original. So groovy.
@caudineclaudine
No it’s not
@theimpishscribe7868
Am in love with this..
@FrenchBalmyNight
My god, i listened this track a million times !!!!!!!!!!! the instrumental version published by Delicieuse
magic version
and i just discovered a version with lyric ahaha
@HANZ23ification
love this band.