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Koop
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Waltz for Koop: Alternative Takes
Palm Pictures
Release: 9/23/2003
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Rated:
Review by:
Aaron Davis
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Writing a review for a remix album is never an easy
assignment, and this one is no exception. Waltz for
Koop: Alternative Takes presents the debut work of
duo Oscar Simonsson and Magnus Zingmark (aka Koop),
remixed by Richard Dorfmeister, Nicole Conte, DJ Patife and
others.
I have been quick to shoot down a remix effort such as this
in the past, failing to appreciate the depth added to tracks
when they are passed through the ears, minds and
instruments of another. This was my initial reaction to this
release as well.
This record does not break new ground. This ground was
already broken by those recognized by the duo as influences
to their work and their sound. Magnus' influences pull from
one direction, giving props to the likes of Public Enemy and
Boogie Down Productions. While from quite a different
direction, Oscar's contributions are molded from the
influences given by Charlie Parker's "Mood" and John
Coltraine's "Alabama."
For two years, I hosted a Jazz/Groove/Electronic radio show
for our college radio station. Relatively new to this entire
world of music, I found remix albums to be the easy way to
blend the genres. To build a good program five days a week
meant I needed to keep fans of these broad genres, with
many distinct subsets, listening. Classic tracks remixed by
new comers, experimental releases from established greats
and new material breaking the genre stereotypes wide open
showed my listeners (and in turn, myself) just how an artist
can find and develop their sound.
It was then the remix album, in my mind, ceased to be a
transition tool and more of an influence test. An album such
as this may be more beneficial to Koop than for the music
community, showing them what they could become, what
they could sound like or even what they should not sound
like. As music fans, we are witness to the growth of this duo.
Koop fans can enjoy the influence of others on the music
they enjoy.
While this release does not break new ground, it does
provide its listeners with an interesting and adventurous mix
of old and new school influences. At first listen, the eclectic
sound of this record made me back away, but after a few
more listens I found the diverse sounds melding into another
good example of the evolution of music through influence. |
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