Hoopy Frood – “Mostly Harmless” | Progressive Rock Central.com

Hoopy Frood, a UK band, has returned with a new album, Mostly Harmless, which was released on August 8th, of this year. The band has released three other albums to this date: Psychonaut (2004), Indigo (2009), and Affirmations (2021).

The name might confuse you, so let us get that out the way immediately. “Hoopy frood” is a phrase from Douglas Adams’ “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” series, where “hoopy” means a “really together guy” and “frood” means a “really amazingly together guy”.

The band is made up of members: Steve Varman, on guitars and synths; Rich Walgate, on bass, acoustic guitar, and other bits and pieces; Myshell Higgins, on vocals; Ruari Hignell, on percussion; Adam Hampton, on percussion and flute; Andy Aust, on drums; and Chris JD Read, on acoustic guitar, mandolin, and backing vocals.

The band was formed, according to their press release, “in the wake of their debut album Psychonaut, in 2004. They found themselves on stage quickly the next year with Ozric Tentacles, in the summer of 2005; despite not having a live band before that point. In fact, the band was thrown together with close friends just for that performance. The show was a resounding success, and since then, Hoopy Frood has been writing, performing, and evolving together for twenty years.”

They go on to say, “The sound of Hoopy Frood was shaped by a wide range of influences, from Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Free, to Ozric Tentacles, Björk, Bob Marley, and Fleetwood Mac. But it was one hot, trippy summer day in 2003 when band members Steve and Rich discovered the music of Ott and Shpongle. Previously indifferent to electronic music, they were immediately captivated. Inspired, they bought a cheap PC, a copy of “Reason,” and began learning how to create the ethereal, mind-bending sounds they’d fallen in love with. The result? A unique blend of influences—from classic rock to psychedelic electronica – all infused with the spirit and creativity of the band.”

Wait, there is more: “Rich Walgate sent the track “Chasing Inspiration,” to Ott, not expecting a response. To their surprise, Ott replied within hours, expressing interest in mixing the track. Ott went on to mix and co-produce the entire album, helping to craft a lush, thought-provoking sound that was warmly received by both fans and new listeners worldwide.”

Hoopy Frood kick off this all-star attraction with the song, “Already Home.” It is an instrumental track that starts off slow with low keyboards and exquisite flute notes. Then, Myshell Higgins sings, “Already home,” after some soft vocalizations. She sounds like she may have a background singer, or she may have done the backing vocalizations herself. The guitar playing, bass, drums, and percussion set an ethereal soundscape from which to launch your first encounter with Hoopy Frood. The use of flute is such an elegant way to open this soundscape, and you will be happy they chose that method. Thank you Hoopy Frood, for over 6 minutes of pure bliss. What a way to open an album.

“Chocolate Factory,” is a reggae and rap filled journey through an imaginary “Charlie’s Chocolate Factory,” complete with horns, flute, percussion and more. Now imagine that…nice huh? Just what you wanted, something different. And this album is gonna be full of it. So nice to hear innovation and dynamic sounds in the progressive genre. So many great lyrics but Myshell leaves you with the best, “I got dancing. Get you grooving in your stride ones. Come with me, taste and see. Rise on the wind and you’re never coming down.” For sure! Welcome to the world of Hoopy Frood. Aren’t you glad you came? I am.

“The River,” opens with cool keyboards and then what sound like harp, before the drums, percussion, and guitar take off, on down the river. Myshell sings, “Swim downstream, swim with me. Swim for your life. Swim to the sea. Follow your heart and jump into the blue.” Why wouldn’t you? Simply entrancing rhythms and music progressive rock that the world has been waiting for and needing. The kind of music and songs that just draw you in with their variance. Yes, Myshell sings the key narrative, “The water around you, is the land of the free.”

“You Are Love,” opens with that cool reggae beat, complete with drums and percussion. The bass, drums and lead electric guitar lead you into the soundscape, where you will find Myshell singing. She reminds me a little of Vicky from Part of the Theory, though she sings more relaxed. Kinda of a smooth jazz feel to her delivery. She sings the key lyrics to this song, just after some Santana-like lead guitar solo plays, “You are love, so let yourself be free. Trust in the drop it’ll set you free.”

“Shine,” opens with Myshell singing like Björk. Then, it turns into Björk, mixed well with “Hounds of Love” era Kate Bush. Yeah, I’m talking “Jig of Life” or “Watching You Without Me,” sounds. Who doesn’t like that? The beat is danceable and full of great grooving. Myshell sings, “Wash away all your aches and pains. Put your light on me. I like the way you shine on me. Mighty waves vibrate through me. Changing all pathways to new energy.” So, entertaining this music is.

“Chasing The Sun,” opens up with some of the best synths on the album. Very cool and spacey; out of this world. Horns light the soundscape with a Central American sound. Myshell sings, “Run into the light! Did you know that your sole. It can get what it’s wishing for? If you listen real close. It’s up to you ‘cos anything goes.” A very cool Latin American sound to this one.

On “Dream Your Life,” Myshell sings, “All I want’s a perfect picture. A piece of land to build my bed. All I wants a perfect harvest. Perfect dreams inside my head. All I want is art and music. Why can’t I have it all? Drop a coin and hopes into the wishing well.” Everything we all want, summarized in a song. All set to another danceable beat, complete with more spacey synths, percussion, and drums.

“Waiting Room,” is not the Genesis classic, off “The Lamb,” but it also is an instrumental. Full of percussion, syths, electric guitar, bass, and drums.

On “Nothing,” Myshell sings, “There’s nothing in my head. Nothing there but dreams.” Later, she adds, “There is nothing in my head. Nothing there but seeds. Watching how they grow.” That lyric and sound takes me away to a day dream of Peter Gabriel’s, “Digging in the Dirt,” music video. Another cool beat not unlike Gabriel’s song. His is longer, otherwise I’d try to synchronize the two of them.

On “Give,” the flute returns, and I feel like I’m “travelling in a fried-out Kombi. On a hippie trail, head full of zombie,” again with Men at Work, going “Down Under,” Yes, take me back. I wanna go. The images of the video play through my mind. Myshell sings, “The more that you give. The more that you love. The more you receive from the universe.” Thank you for taking us back to some Men at Work sounds, complete with some Beatles advice.

Hoopy Frood’s “Mostly Harmless,” was a wonderful trip back to the fun-filled, care-free, 1980s and MTV for me. If you were born after this era, there are many YouTube videos that can take you there. But no, this band has integrated some wonderful reggae, Police (band), like beats and sounds that help make their music unique for modern progressive listeners. Many of us listeners with more years of experience will be pleased to hear the integration of this reggae type of music again. Whoever you are, I am sure this music will entertain and amaze you. Go give Hoopy Frood’s “Mostly Harmless,” a listen. It cannot hurt and will ultimately make you smile. After all, with a name like Hoopy Frood, it is mostly harmless and they are a “really amazingly together band.”

Produced by Rich Walgate. Mixed by Rich Walgate and Al Heslop. Mastered by Al Heslop. Artwork by Steve Varman. Lyrics by Michelle Higgins and Rich Walgate.

Album Track List:

1. Already Home (06:04)

2. Chocolate Factory (05:37)

3. The River (05:36)

4. You Are Love (05:38)

5. Shine (06:50)

6. Chasing The Sun (05:23)

7. Dream Your Life (06:28)

8. Waiting Room (04:51)

9. Nothing (03:24)

10. Give (04:17)

Band Website and Social Media Links: