PHANTOM LIMB

This record is a sonic expedition. A daring journey through late 1960s German experimental jazz, enriched with Canterbury nuances and hints of Zappa's eccentric brilliance from the One Size Fits All era. The band features Pär Hallgren (electric bass and effects), Jacob Hamilton (drums), Jocke Jönsson (electric guitar and effects), and Bengt Wahlgren (electric piano, organ, and synthesizers).

Hooffoot sound revolves around Wahlgren's Hammond and Fender Rhodes, which create a warm, vintage sound and are made the band's sound.

Phantom Limb opens with its eponymous 11-minute track, an ambient and cinematic piece led by a Hammond organ, layered with Rhodes, and punctuated by surf-inspired guitar tones. This opening track immediately showcases the album's thematic range: its rhythmic development, melodic depth, and tonal interplay set the stage for what follows.

At nearly 12 minutes long, When the Insane Go Marching In delves into Canterbury-style territory. Interlocking guitar motifs intertwine with driving bass grooves, while keyboards add harmonic color and playful shifts, blending jazz fusion with hints of progressive rock.

At just under 9 minutes long, Liisa (a Finnish Spectrolite) is the album's most concise piece, a groove-laden journey that fuses motorized, krautrock-inspired rhythms with the warmth of soulful jazz. Touches of flute and synthesizer add a bright and energetic touch, with the track dynamically shifting pace before closing on a reflective, subdued note.

Finally, Last Letter Home, the epic 14-minute closer, begins with a spacious jazz-rock intro and evolves through multiple shifting rhythm sections. It balances progressive ambition, improvisational spirit, and a hypnotic krautrock pulse, delivering a mature and sophisticated finale that unites the album's themes.

Phantom Limb delivers Hooffoot finest work to date, fusing the adventurous spirit of late-'60s experimental jazz with the elegance of progressive rock. It's an album that rewards close listening, unfolding its layers with every spin.

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