Koop - Sons Of Koop

Koop's first album SONS OF KOOP skirts between ambient and trip-hop, with a definite Scandanavian chill. While the occasional flashes of brilliance appear (like "Glomd"), this is very much Koop discovering their direction, experimenting with industrial ("Psalm" and "Bijarne Riis") to frigid trip-hop ("Absolute Space"). "Words of Traniquility" sounds like it's beaming straight from a lonely cantina on the moon, with ethereal vocals and the occasional chords from a accordion. All the songs are extremely quiet and subtle, sometimes too subtle, I think, because despite their quality, they slip by (like the vocal track, "Salvation"). "Jellyfishes" has a kick drum that gives it a bit more life, while "Once Britten" (a reference to the modern composer) throws into a heavy drum pattern halfway through the dream. Though not entirely unsuccessful, it still has the hallmarks of enormous talent that's looking for its voice.