Hooffoot ~ Sweden

Phantom Limb (2025)

Phantom Limb is the third effort from the Swedish retro prog / jazz rock band Hooffoot. I documented their debut, but never did get around to writing anything down for their second. I'll get to it eventually.

Without having the context of their sophomore effort in mind, I'll have to jump from the debut to here. Well, for one, there's no Latin culture influence this time. It's much more entrenched into the jazz rock world of the early 70s, but without the pyrotechnics often associated with the style. The music is composed with improvisation tightly controlled yet visible, making it for an enjoyable and entertaining session. Hooffoot leaves you guessing where they're going next, which is usually a hallmark of a great album and is the recipe for new results on repeated listens. The instrumentation remains steadfastly retro, sticking with analog gear pre-1980. 

As always, it helps to have a reference album to grab onto. Provides the guardrails for a comfortable listen. They aren't near as jumpy as, say, Anglagard, Wobbler, or that branch of the Scandinavian retro prog tree. I couldn't find what I was looking for in UMR, so I dug through my hard drive. Maybe Metrognom? Who remembers this Norwegian band from 2006 whose sole album Twangyluck came and went without much notice? That album also possessed four lengthy instrumental pieces. They did, however, also feature sax, so a diversion, but that may be the closest I get here. I need to revisit that album and place it here in UMR. Of course, Berits Halsband (noted below) also had four instrumental tracks as well, though they were a bit more psychedelic and featured trumpet.

For me, especially at this point. Hooffoot's Phantom Limb is extremely easy to listen to. As I said about Viima's last album, it's so very much in my comfort zone. Perhaps even more so. You won't hear me say this too much these days, but I'm very much looking forward to their next album, and I'll pounce on it quicker next time.

Ownership: 2025 Paura di Niente (CD). Embossed trifold digipak. Acquired in 2026.

3/2/26 (review)
 

Hooffoot (2015)

Hooffoot are from the southern Swedish city of Malmo, and are an excellent representation of a Swedish progressive rock band... from 40 years ago. Like their forefathers, the band is rooted in jazz, but fascinated with rock. And Latin culture. Sound odd? Not in Sweden would it. So combine Kvartetten Som Sprangde, Sabu Martinez, Ablution, and Mendoza together. Then go back exactly 40 years to one of the all-time Swedish jazz rock greats, and just now being discovered (finally): Berits Halsband. "Oh hello Miles Davis, Kebnekaise, and Flasket Brinner - nice to meet you!". And then enters the room this jumpy, kinetic 90s group called Anglagard (perhaps you've heard of them?). Funnel the lot of them into the blender and grind, mash, grate... Hooffoot. 

Ownership: 2015 Paura di Niente (LP). Gatefold. Acquired in 2016.

2/12/16 (review); 8/3/17; 11/10/25

Also own and need to review The Lights in the Aisle Will Guide You.

2/12/16 (new entry)