Koop - Koop Islands

01] koop islands blues 04:34
02] come to me 02:51
03] forces... darling 05:03
04] i see a different you 03:17
05] let's elope 03:15
06] the moonbounce 02:46
07] beyond the son 04:53
08] whenever there is you 04:02
09] drum rhythm a 02:15

TOTAL TiME : 32:56 min

It's been four years since we last heard from the
Stockholm based duo of Oscar Simonsson and Magnus
Zingmark. Their album "Waltz for Koop" slowly but
surely found it΄s way into the hearts of more than
160.000 record buyers across the globe. Then
followed the world tours, the two sets a night at
the Blue Note in Tokyo and hundreds of remixes,
until finally last year they found themselves back
in Stockholm able to begin work on what was to
become "Koop Islands".
Where "Waltz For Koop" was steeped in a modern -
and modernist - take on 60s jazz and swedish
songstressess from the time (Monica Zetterlunds
name was mentioned more times than the group
thought was fair), Koop Islands has - despite its
name - very little to do with romanticising the
Stockholm archipelago. Rather, it goes much, much
further south west, all the way down the caribbean
for inspiration. That's where you'll find Koop
Islands on their imaginary world map.
Also, Magnus and Oscar realised that sometimes the
only way forwards is to go as far back in history
as possible. "I think we can do that", says
Magnus. "Our music is created in a post-sampling
world where everything is possible. Even time
travel. That's why we just laugh if someone calls
what we do retro.
So back they went. Back to the swing of the 1930s,
the exoticism of forgotten orchestras and
entertainers performing on late 40s yacht cruises
to Jamaica. The characteristic Koop vibes now
joined by marimbas, furious gene krupaesque jungle
drums (just listen to them rip on "Forces
Darling") and an ever present Cape Verdean Blues
with just a hint of Mento that would have made
islanders in european exile, like the recently
salvaged Lord Kitchener & His Friends, nod in
approval.
This journey in time and music is what forms the
foundation Koop Islands was built on.
On their travels towards Koop Islands they were
joined by their inner circle of friends, some of
whom you might remember from "Waltz For Koop". The
amazing Yukimi Nagano with her free flowing vocals
and her male counterpart - the criminally
underrated Mikael Sundin. Ex-Galliano main man Rob
Gallagher (aka Earl Zinger) tells a heartbreaking
tale that weaves together tennis ace Bjorn Borg
with the sad story of the passing of a mother.
And, last but no way least, on the album΄s title
track the norweigan singer-songwriter Ane Brun
heads out on her virgin tour of the Islands.
Even though Magnus and Oscars hearts and souls are
filled with exotic and eclecticly swinging sounds
the whole album was recorded in their own tiny
studio on Stockholms Sodermalm. If you listen very
carefully you can hear the number 4 bus go by on
the snowy street outside.'