Koop Islands

The music's exactly as expected (you cannot change that) & it was delivered right on time (as a present to my sister who qualified the music as refreshing), so everything went fine !

I'm a big fan of Koop - I was a bit turned off at my first listen (especially when compared to Waltz), but each time I run through it I like and appreciate it more and more. Isn't that the hallmark of really good music?

I love it from beginning to end. Koop has truly outdone themselves on this album. I love it just as much as the first one. Probably even more. If you love swing & jazz you will love this album. My hats off to the most talented duo in the world!

Speaking as a jazz/lounge musician, I think Koop produces some of the most well crafted, subtley infectious music in this idiom. Anyone who equates "Lounge" music with the 50's-60's will find that this style, like anything well done, is classic in that it knows no time period. Koop point the way with "Islands" and "Waltz". More power to them. Now, about their "agenda." When I first got "Waltz" in '03 I was slightly taken back by the cover featuring two guys (Koop I assume) in dresses. Oh well, I've seen more shocking images on Rock CD covers. Nevertheless, the image is, IMO, incongruous with the music and, to this straight male, vaguely uncomfortable. Maybe I missed the joke. Or so I thought. Now, in '08 when I ordered "Islands" on Amazon, I noticed the CD cover features two beautiful female models. Their pose might be considered vaguely "lesbian" though it depends on the individual.
I also noticed the CD with an alternate cover featuring two men (again Koop I assume) in the same makeup and pose as the two girls. This image is far more direct in it's suggestion of homosexuality and borders on the offensive. Oh well, it's a big world with lots of different people. Needless to say, I ordered the "female"
version . But leave it to these guys to get their two cents in. Having received the CD, I opened the booklet to find a picture of the two female models seductively stretched out on their respective divans and beneath each, the names of the two Koop members. Oh, ha! ha! I get it guys! You're gay! Gee, it really lends your music a whole new perspective. (The previous sentence should be read with an air of sarcasm.) Seriously,
Koop, you're doing terrific work and I look forward to future releases. However, I find your imagery cloying,
manipulative and unnecessary. We get your "little joke". Who really gives a damn what you are ? Your music is
marvelous and being Gay had nothing to do with it. Why not save your "subliminal Gay promoting" for elsewhere. It does not belong on your CD covers. In fact if your next CD cover continues to move in this direction, I probably will not buy it no matter how good the music. Perhaps I'm being Politically incorrect.
Too bad. That's how I feel and I don't think I'm alone in my feelings. Keep up the great music work and quit letting your gender preference get in the way. P.S. I occasionally perform "Summer Sun" on gigs. Great tune!

Another amazing album from what might just be the best nu jazz band out there. Koop continues to make music with a personality, because they bring in live vocals and write entire lyrics instead of sampling a line or two. While I don't normally like Ane Brun, her vocals on the intro are very fitting to the music. And Earl Zinger's voice is as sexy and deep as ever.

What makes this album especially great is that it continues in the same vein as Waltz for Koop but without sounding like remake. Like it says on Koop's web page, this album is " Swedish summer solstice meets a Caribbean christmas." It's the sort of music that's suited for the background when you're entertaining guests, but also to be played a little louder when you're by yourself daydreaming.