NEW YORK, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Atlantic Records) - Atlantic recording group KOOP has announced details of their much-anticipated new album, "KOOP ISLANDS." The collection - which follows the Swedish nu-jazz duo's 2003 breakthrough, "WALTZ FOR KOOP" - arrives in stores across North
America on October 9th.
KOOP - aka Oscar Simonsson and Magnus Zingmark - is a true original, known for their groundbreaking sample-based amalgamation of jazz, hip-hop, dance, and electronica. Where "WALTZ FOR KOOP" was fueled by the duo's love of breezy Sixties jazz, the new collection sees KOOP venturing to the Caribbean in search of new musical inspiration. "KOOP ISLANDS" conjures up the exotic sensations of a late-night yacht cruise to Jamaica, effortlessly melding the characteristic KOOP vibes with a blend of Latin-tinged rhythms and calypso melodies. Joining KOOP on their remarkable tropical journey are a number of guest vocalists, including Yukimi Nagano, Mikael Sundin, and ex-Galliano frontman Rob Gallagher (all of whom were featured on "WALTZ FOR KOOP"), as well as the acclaimed Norwegian singer-songwriter Ane Brun.
Among the many highlights of "KOOP ISLANDS" is the syncopated "Come To Me," featured earlier this year on an episode of ABC's blockbuster "Grey's Anatomy." In addition, the Big Band-flavored track was used in a series of ABC promos from early April through the May sweeps.
To herald the new album's upcoming release, KOOP will make a rare U.S. concert appearance, slated for August 15th at Los Angeles' famed El Rey Theatre. The show is presented by KCRW, and produced by Bossa:Nova. When performing, Simonsson and Zingmark magically transform KOOP from a two-man studio project into a full-scale orchestra, complete with multiple singers and up to 9 live instruments. KOOP themselves play piano/accordion (Simonsson) and sampler (Zingmark).
Emerging from Stockholm's inventive jazz scene in the late 1990s, KOOP drew immediate notoriety for their unique and passionate musical fusion. "WALTZ FOR KOOP," the duo's second album, established KOOP as true pioneers, unafraid to blend such diverse styles as bossa nova, Detroit techno, and acid house into their own 21st Century retro-cool groove. In the four years since its initial release, the collection slowly but surely grew to become an international sensation, finding its way into the hearts of more than 160,000 record buyers around the globe. A number of world tours followed, as well as hundreds of remixes for artists ranging from like-minded British duo Zero 7 to legendary Afro-Peruvian songstress Susana Baca.
