Koop is the Swedish electronic jazz duo of Magnus Zingmark and Oscar Simons… Read Full Bio ↴Koop is the Swedish electronic jazz duo of Magnus Zingmark and Oscar Simonsson from Uppsala, Sweden, formed in 1995. Though the music may sound as if it is played by a tight jazz group, it is actually sample-based. Thousands of small clips of drums, strings, horns, and choirs are taken from old records and puzzled together into new songs. This time consuming production process is one of the reasons Koop's albums are released 4-5 years apart.

The group's 3 albums all feature guest vocalists. On their latest, "Koop Islands", the singers are Yukimi Nagano, Ane Brun, Hilde Louise Asbjornsen, Rob Gallagher and Mikael Sundin. Also contributing to the percussion, solos, and bass are Mattias Ståhl, Magnus Lindgren, Karl Frid, Nils Berg, Martin Höper, Ola Bothzén, Dan Berglund and Mats Lindfors.

Live, Koop transforms into a 7-9 piece swing orchestra including 1-3 singers. The lineup varies from time to time.

Koop prefers to label their music "romantic swingtronica".

Absolute Space
Koop Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Peacefully
I close my eyes
To get a better view
No need for words now
No need for words
While I never come closer

Whispering

Whispering softly
I try to get close
There's a place
Behind this view
While I never come closer
No I never come closer
To where I wanna be

There's no space
Left for me

But I never come closer
But I never come closer
But I never come closer
But I never come closer

But I never come closer
But I never come closer

Overall Meaning

The song Absolute Space by Koop is a heartfelt ode to longing for something that seems just out of reach. The lyrics take us on a journey where the singer tries to find peace by closing their eyes in search of a different perspective. The line "no need for words now" suggests that this is a moment of solitude, where one can reflect without the distractions of language. However, despite the attempt to "get a better view," the singer is never able to come closer to what they truly desire. The repetition of the lines "Whispering softly / I try to get close" and "While I never come closer / No I never come closer / To where I wanna be" reinforces the sense of frustration and unfulfilled yearning.

The chorus of the song, "But I never come closer," serves as a haunting reminder of the singer's inability to reach their desired destination. The final line "There's no space left for me," suggests that the singer has exhausted all their options and there is no more room for movement or progress. The song captures the bittersweet reality that sometimes no matter how hard one tries, some things are just beyond reach.

Line by Line Meaning

Peacefully
In a state of calm and tranquility

I close my eyes
I shut out the external world and look inward

To get a better view
To gain clarity and insight beyond what is visible

No need for words now
Silence is enough to convey meaning

No need for words
Communication is not necessary in this state of being

While I never come closer
Despite my efforts, I am unable to reach my desired destination

Whispering
Softly and gently speaking

Whispering softly
Speaking in a gentle and delicate tone

I try to get close
I make efforts to reach my desired goal

There's a place
There exists a destination I desire to reach

Behind this view
Beyond what is currently visible lies my desired destination