Koop Islands

Koop | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Ada
• ASIN: B000VI6T9C
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,293 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #16 in Music > Jazz > Acid Jazz
  • #31 in Music > World Music > Europe > Scandinavia > Sweden
  • #73 in Music > Dance & DJ > Trip-Hop

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute gem! October 25, 2007

By R. Coley

Format:Audio CD

Koop islands is a magnificent CD. It is more jazzy than their first offering which is fine by me. There are several standouts on this recording such as "Wherever there is you", "I see a different you" and "Let's Elope". The other songs are good as well, but those three are classics. As I said earlier, the CD is more jazzy than the first one, but if you liked the first one, you should love this one as well. As usual, Koop puts their magnificent touch on another effort! I just wish they came out with new music more often.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Stellar October 26, 2007

By M o n d o

Format:Audio CD

Koop takes off right from where they left off. Koop Islands is a very refined album that uses the new jazz/electronic sound extremely efficiently. This album is much more upbeat than Waltz for Koop, using the big band sound of the 30's & 40's as well as a sultry jazzy sound. Yukimi Nagano is back (Summer Sun, her most notable work of vocals from Waltz for Koop) and lends her beautiful vocal talents in a few songs. A VERY feel good album that can be played while relaxing alone or when hosting a gathering. This album has been out for over a year now but is now barely being released domestically in the U.S. One note, the cover had to be changed from Koop(two males) being on the cover to two females on the U.S. cover, which is i guess to avoid controversy or more directly homeosexuality. Also this U.S. release gets an additional track, a "Come to Me" remix. Highly recommended album. You'll enjoy it :D!!!

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and relaxing November 17, 2007

By Robert Murphy

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I first heard Koop on Radio Paradise (via iTunes), where the first two cuts from Koop Islands are in rotation. This album is kind of '40s swing with an occasional Caribbean spin and some very modern lyrics. Since getting this, I've bought Koop's other two albums, and also sent this album to my 78-year-old uncle for his birthday. And I deeply regret missing Koop when they played recently at Bimbo's 360 in San Francisco; I just hope I can catch them live soon.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What's with the cover? October 25, 2006

By J. Weiss

Amazon Verified Purchase

Wow! Awesome album. It may be better than Waltz for Koop which was just about perfect. Koop Islands continues that direction. Intelligent, sophisticated, smooth and fun Old School Jazz that sounds fresh and modern. Very talented group and I respect them immensely, but what were they thinking with that cover?!!! If there was an ambiguous homesexual message with the last album cover, it's crystal clear now.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Still smooth as ever May 31, 2007

By Mark

Format:Audio CD

Koop's follow up to the stellar "Waltz for Koop" lives up to the hype. It's been a while since that album, but the sound hasn't changed much at all, and this album is pretty much more of the same from the Swedish duo.

"Koop Island Blues" is a beautiful lament, featuring gorgeous vocals by Ane Brun, the only new vocalist in the lineup. It's upbeat, but mellow and even sorrowful; great stuff.

"Come to Me" is a chippy, upbeat song with vocals by returning vocalist Yukimi Nagamo, and she is just as good as ever. Tells a story of a girl who seems to be optimistic despite just getting over a failed relationship.

"Forces...Darling" features Earl Zinger, who's back for more after the last album. He and Nagamo make great rhythms with their voices, they work very well together.

"I See A Different You" features Nagamo again, and it REALLY shows off her vocal range. The title is pretty self-explanatory. A great little upbeat number.

"Let's Elope" brings back Mikael Sundin again for a more sensual feel. A very smooth piece that somehow manages to remain as innocent as possible despite the suggestive title.

"The Moonbounce": Koop lets loose! An energetic number with a catchy vocal sample overtop of lots of solos and rhythms. Good pace and very cute! (Yes, you can call music cute!) A great instrumental piece that'll get you moving.

"Beyond the Son" is a very interesting tune that may not work for some, but does for me. It's Earl Zinger reading a letter overtop of some slow beats and rhythms. It's fantastic, the letter he reads is so....interesting. Seems to be a letter to a good friend in Sweden from London. Zinger's voice is VERY unique and quite comforting.... It's just the sort of letter you'd love to get from a suave friend such as him.

"Whenever There Is You" features Nagamo again, and serves as a nice jazzy love song. Great vocals again, and backing that is smooth as silk.

"Drum Rhythm A (Music For Ballet Exercises)" is the only one that didn't really cut it with me. A xylophone dances overtop of a fairly simple beat. A bit of artistic meandering, in my opinion, this song should have been built upon to make it a better instrumental piece.

All in all, "Koop Islands" is slightly (and I mean just slightly) more upbeat than "Waltz for Koop", but the sound remains the same for the most part. You still get the same feeling in this album. You feel like you're floating through the music. It's comforting, its smooth, and the production/engineering is TOP NOTCH. Truly wonderful relaxing music, I highly recommend this.

My only major beef is the same as I had with "Waltz". The album is WAY too short. Paying full price for 35 minutes of music is not so hot. If you're gonna charge full price, then fill up your CD! If "Waltz" and "Islands" were combined, they'd easily make one of the best jazz albums ever made.

Unbelievably smooth and well crafted music. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant fusion of styles March 30, 2009

By Jamie Anderson

Format:Audio CD

Koop's method is to mix their lyrics performed by guest artists with sampled beats and instrumentation. This means that their albums can take some time to produce and can also at times lack a strong cohesion. However, this album is the most cohesive of their discography, and in it, you can see that their technique has been polished to a high lustre.

This is my favourite of all Koop's albums, and I can not recommend it enough. It is an intelligently done fusion of jazz and big-band style moods respectfully and thoughtfully melded with their sound sampling techniques.

This album delivers a sunny, carefree mood conveyed with beautifully rendered vocals, but with enough light and shade to keep the listener's interest - all mixed together into a pleasing cocktail that is as smooth as a valium daiquiri.

If I were forced to choose, my favourite song on the album would be "Come To Me", and happily, there is a fantastic bonus-version at the end featuring the BBC Big Band, which really brings a full visceral quality to the the song that can only be achieved through real instruments.

The least convincing songs are "Beyond the Son", and "Drum Rhythm A (Music for Ballet Excercises)". The former due to my personal taste, and the latter because it is so far out of character with the rest of the album, it is like some accidental detour or B-Side which made it onto the final album.

This CD is music to drive long distances to, and to make you happy on a cloudy day, but more importantly, has pleased at many a dinner party since its purchase, and for that reason alone is worth the price.