Tummy Touch

If ABBA took acid, the Phenomenal Handclap Band might be the result. A worldly fusion of musicians, ideas and influences, Form and Control is a danceable mix of krautrock, prog, psych, disco, R&B, funk and techno-pop with the occasional gritty guitar licks, scorching beats and crafty programming loops. Songs shift effortlessly from electroboogie and synth pop to heavy psychedelic forays that easily could open into length live jams. ‘70s-style glam rockers meld trippy ‘60s organ and disco beats, while wispy California folkscapades adopt driving dance beats. Vocals – male and female – float in and out, veering from spacey to crisp to vintage soul shouts. It requires a few listens to grasp the immensity, depth and complexity of this dynamic music, but the effort reaps great rewards.