Koop Islands

瑞典二人组Koop有着甚优越的爵士乐底蕴，令其Jazz Downtempo音乐听来是那么妙不可言。Koop Island是他们五年来的全新专辑，柔扬的爵士乐韵、热情的加纳比节奏，仍是那么的美好雅致，更何况又有Earl Zinger(即前Galliano主将Rob Gallagher)献声呢。 以一支有12年资历的乐队来计算，这支瑞典乐队－Koop，算是产量少的一群。成于1995年，Magnus Zingmark及Oscar Simonsson为重心成员，这是支同时带Acid Jazz，Downtemple及Trip－Hop基因的乐队。他们上一张专辑（亦是首张专辑）－《Waltz for Koop》中，加纳比节奏，甜美的男声演唱，迷幻绚丽的Acid Jazz，就好比一场令人亢奋的仲夏派对，叫人印象深刻。 与《Waltz for Koop》比较起来，新专辑《Koop Island》来得爵士化，除了Magnus Zingmark及Oscar Simonsson创作之外，他们亦找来了许多不同的音乐人合作，《Come To Me》、《I See A Different You》及《Whenever There Is You》就有Yukimi Nagano这位由上张专辑已参与过演唱部分的女主音献声。另外，Koop更找来了前Galliano成员Rob Gallagher（Earl Zinger），参与创作及演唱，令专辑的阵容更加壮盛。 Koop, the duo of Oscar Simonsson and Magnus Zingmark, seem to grasp what many other trip-hop production units never did — that, no matter which instruments are used in your productions, digital or acoustic or electric, a sense of place is what should never be lost. Their debut album Waltz for Koop, with its languruous textures and tugging sense of melancholy, one-upped a parade of other deservedly recognized acts who had come in the wake of Air (groups like Royksopp, Zero 7, and Groove Armada). Koop Islands, the duo's first proper record in six years, is another quality collection of songs, with guest vocalists and the returning Yukimi Nagano usually providing exactly the right touch for each song (credit Koop for those personnel decisions). Ane Brun contributes the best, a swinging French chanson named "Koop Island Blues" with pining accordion and vibraphone (plus a devastating clarinet solo from Koop's Lindgren himself). Earl Zinger stops by to lighten the mood on two tracks, including a humorous "letter home" on the track "Beyond the Son." Part of what helps the pair stand apart is their instrumental prowess and obvious arranging talents; Koop Islands is one of the few records of the '90s and 2000s that has exactly the right atmosphere to suit trip-hop fans and all the ingredients for an excellent contemporary jazz record.