Magnus Zingmark and Oscar Simonsson, two swedish acid jazz musicians, comprise Koop, one of the most multi-textual, complex, yet astoundingly fresh releases in electronica. perhaps the one thing you'll pick up on is that they don't seem to sound like electronica at all. the manner in which they orchestrate samples, live instrumentation, and vocal arrangements makes it seem like, at best, a west coast jazz cd. but that simply shows their genius and amazing dexterity with the genre. whereas artists like mr. scruff made a coherent and enjoyable medium between electronic samples and jazz samples, Koop seems to have had a jazz album in mind before they even started working on it.

with muses in the way of cecilia stalin, terry callier, and yukimi nagano (who is absolutely radiant on 'Summer Sun'), it becomes difficult to see any inorganic components at all. but there is an obvious reversion to the familiar reversion to the modern conception of the sub-genre when 'Modal Mile' begins, it's beat pattern being a dead giveaway. i'm not in the least bit surprised that Koop is Zero 7's label-mate, seeing as how both Waltz for Koop and Simple Things are quiet, sublime forays or instant summers that require an hour of your time. Waltz for Koop is equally spectacular for those who love [west coast] jazz as it is for those who love acid jazz.