MOOM - Toot (1995)

Founded in Northampton, UK in 1992 - Disbanded c. 2001

Moom started off as a coalition of members from other bands. Andy Fairclough, Greg Myles, and Jim Patterson had previously been in a group called Medicinal Compound, and Kristian Hartridge was playing with the group Blim, based in Birmingham. In 1992, Hartridge relocated to Northampton, and at this time Rob Falmer and Toby Kay joined the group and Moom was formed. Rob Falmer left the band after several gigs, and in 1993 the group had saved up money to record some material. The studio in which they were recording was owned by Robert John Godfrey (The Enid), and with his help they recorded and mixed an entire album in only nine days. These sessions resulted in the tape Helicopter Tortoise Collection, which didn't manage to bring the band much publicity.

With the help of Robert John Godfrey and the Enid, the group was chosen for a slot in a festival in London, in 1994. This festival earned the group a feature article in the magazine Progress, at which point Delerium Records gained interest in the group and their music. The members of Moom sent the company a copy of their early tape, which resulted in the album Toot being formed from the best tracks on the tape. The group has since recorded a second album, Bone Idol, released in 1999. Over the years, Moom has played as a supporting act for groups as varied as Porcupine Tree, The Enid, and Jefferson Starship.

Moom is recommended to fans of Hatfield and the North, Frank Zappa, and the Canterbury side of fusion, being heavily influenced by the sounds of the original Canterbury scene.