Hooffoot: Recommended Swedish jazz/progressive

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   Hooffoot is a relatively new band from Malmö, Sweden, sharing 
some members with the much revered Agusa, Øresund Space Collective, 
Mantric Muse, Bland Bladen, Carpet Knights and Sgt Sunshine. Their 
musical style is quite different though, as they are a six to eight 
piece playing an all instrumental hybrid of jazz and progressive with a 
slight psychedelic vibe. Their debut album (issued on gatefold cover 
vinyl by the excellent Kommune 2 label) offers two side-long tracks that
 will take you straight back to 1975! And it’s a definite must for 
someone who wants to hear real music.

First side contains the mammoth Last Flight Of The Ratite. Not at
 all sterile and uber technical as some fusion from the golden era of 
the genre, it rather bridges late 70s period Soft Machine with electric 
period Miles and the progressive heaviness of UK acts like CMU and 
Norman Haines Band. Heavier melodies reminding of the large instrumental
 sections of Balletto Di Bronzo do creep in, somewhere in the middle of 
the track to switch back in a softer Soft Machine (era "Six") style. 
Great jamming fusion unafraid of risk yet much easy to get into, not to 
mention quite melodic and exciting for the most part. This music is old 
school in that it is all encompassing, with a subtle -not offensive- 
disregard for genre boundaries.

Flip the record over now and you will hear the groovier live vibe of Take Five, Seven, Six, Eight, And Nine.
  It starts slow and spacey, in a playful "Caravanserai" mood to switch 
to a slower Camel vibe that slowly builds up and the groove finally 
kicks in and off we go in a Klaus Doldinger’s Passport way. There is a 
wider variety of tempos and stylistic diversity on this interplay of 
Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, fuzz bass, trumpet & saxophones and a 
rockier drumming. Tirelessly discovering possibilities in the space 
between smoother jazz and rock's more propulsive beats.

Seriously, if you're someone who likes lots of jazzy jams combined with 
70s retro prog and done so in a tasteful and melodic way with horns, 
keyboards and drums played in a distinctly creative and moody kind of 
way, I highly recommend Hooffoot. Most of you will be surprised at how 
good this record actually is. I really love it  and it has been a worthy
 purchase for 2015. Definitively for my top 10 annual list.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
spacefreak Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Groupie Joined: December 19 2010 Location: Greece Status: Offline Points: 45	Topic: Hooffoot: Recommended Swedish jazz/progressive Posted: May 14 2015 at 11:47
	Hooffoot is a relatively new band from Malmö, Sweden, sharing some members with the much revered Agusa, Øresund Space Collective, Mantric Muse, Bland Bladen, Carpet Knights and Sgt Sunshine. Their musical style is quite different though, as they are a six to eight piece playing an all instrumental hybrid of jazz and progressive with a slight psychedelic vibe. Their debut album (issued on gatefold cover vinyl by the excellent Kommune 2 label) offers two side-long tracks that will take you straight back to 1975! And it’s a definite must for someone who wants to hear real music. First side contains the mammoth Last Flight Of The Ratite. Not at all sterile and uber technical as some fusion from the golden era of the genre, it rather bridges late 70s period Soft Machine with electric period Miles and the progressive heaviness of UK acts like CMU and Norman Haines Band. Heavier melodies reminding of the large instrumental sections of Balletto Di Bronzo do creep in, somewhere in the middle of the track to switch back in a softer Soft Machine (era "Six") style. Great jamming fusion unafraid of risk yet much easy to get into, not to mention quite melodic and exciting for the most part. This music is old school in that it is all encompassing, with a subtle -not offensive- disregard for genre boundaries. Flip the record over now and you will hear the groovier live vibe of Take Five, Seven, Six, Eight, And Nine. It starts slow and spacey, in a playful "Caravanserai" mood to switch to a slower Camel vibe that slowly builds up and the groove finally kicks in and off we go in a Klaus Doldinger’s Passport way. There is a wider variety of tempos and stylistic diversity on this interplay of Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, fuzz bass, trumpet & saxophones and a rockier drumming. Tirelessly discovering possibilities in the space between smoother jazz and rock's more propulsive beats. Seriously, if you're someone who likes lots of jazzy jams combined with 70s retro prog and done so in a tasteful and melodic way with horns, keyboards and drums played in a distinctly creative and moody kind of way, I highly recommend Hooffoot. Most of you will be surprised at how good this record actually is. I really love it and it has been a worthy purchase for 2015. Definitively for my top 10 annual list.