Having a critically acclaimed album and worldwide love at the same time can put album crushing pressure on the follow up. Usually an artist will switch gears and deliver a different album entirely to show that they are more than a one sound band. Others will do a carbon copy and the masses will lose interest. So Koop have put themselves in a tough spot creatively and stave off the pressure by picking a new muse and applying their Koop imprint to this new collection of songs called Koop Islands.

1. Koop Island Blues
2. Come to Me
3. Forces...Darling
4. I See a Different You
5. Let's Elope
6. The Moonbounce
7. Beyond the Son
8. Strange Love
9. Drum Rhyhtm A (Music for Ballet Exercises)
10. Whenever There is You
11. Come to Me (feat. The BBC Big Band)

Sticking with the early jazz model, Koop shift their focus to the sounds of the Caribbean, though, after writing that, it makes me cringe and shout disaster! But the music pulls my mind out of that critic mood and makes me remember I'm a listener first and foremost.

"Koop Island Blues" is a beautifully crafted pop-jazz tune ala classic Koop. It feels like the second set of a live show as it eases us into the world of Koop under a slow to mid-tempo rhythm and reminds us what Koop did in the first set with Waltz For Koop. "Come To Me" captures a Big Band-meets-Phil Specter-produced feel with it's sugary sweetness and puppy love lyrics. "Forces...Darling" is a swinging affair with tribal drums and his/her vocal smoothly delivered and horn solos moving this piece along with toe-tapping melodies.

"The Moonbounce" brings on the Easy Tempo vibe with flute solos, bongo action and straight up lounge groove. "Beyond The Sun" features a spoken word piece on top of sleigh bell swing and freeform vibe soloing. "Strange Love" is one of the darker songs on the album and the full-of-life lyrics keep the pep up and the dark off in the background.

"Drum Rhythm A" moves into the "downtempo" arena but quickly loses itself in looped repetition that stalls, but in a two minute song it is wisely kept short. "Whenever There Is You" wraps up the end of the album with a well placed piano solo and wistful vocals.

"Come To Me" reappears with an actual BBC Big Band rolling through the happiness without overwhelming the vocals.

So if you like lounge, jazz, big band, Koop, downtempo or happiness, then you will unquestionably want to pop this disc in at your next wine and cheese party.

~ Dedric Moore

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