LaikaCountry of origin:England Type of music generally:Experimental, beautiful & fierce ectronica with evocative/eclectic influences Status:Most recent release, Everywhere I am I am What is Missing (2003) See also:Laika's official website Comparisons:Cross Portishead with Bushtucker, and have Tricky produce. On amphetamines. (lissener@wwa.com) Covers/own material:Own General comments:They are wonderful aren't they—an intriguing mix of sampling, tribal rhythms and whispery vocals. I'm surprised that eMpTVy hasn't picked up on them, but then I guess their music is too difficult for middle america. (jmgurley@drizzle.com) Comments about live performance:I've only seen them once live, back in 1995, right around the time of Silver Apples of the Moon. They were able to translate their sound well, but weren't very dynamic. They were just beginning to feel their way around the stage, it seems. They relied somewhat on their sampled sounds, which sometimes did and sometimes did not work on stage. (jmgurley@drizzle.com) Recommended first album:Good Looking Blues is my favourite so far Recordings:
antenna epRelease info:1994—Too Pure, P.O. Box 1944, London NW10 SPJ— Pure CD 38 Availability:U.K. and stores in the U.S. that carry indie imports Ecto priority:Highly recommended for ectronica fans Group members:Margaret Fiedler & Guy Fixsen—samples, guitar, moog, voice, marimbas Comments:This serves as an excellent introduction to the lovely, experimental, haunting, urgent sounds of Laika. (Neile) Silver Apples of the MoonRelease info:1994—Too Pure, P.O. Box 1944, London NW10 SPJ— Pure CD 42 Availability:Wide in U.S. and U.K. Ecto priority:Essential for electronica fans Group members:Margaret Fiedler & Guy Fixsen—samples, guitar, moog, voice, marimbas, vices, melodica Comments:I just went back and played their first one, Silver Apples of the Moon, and was once again stunned. I think I still like that one more than sounds of the satellites, but not by much. (lissener@wwa.com) sounds of the satellitesRelease info:1997—Too Pure, P.O. Box 1944, London NW10 SPJ— Pure CD 62; Warner (U.S.) Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Essential for electronica fans Group members:Margaret Fiedler and Guy Fixsen—samples, guitar, vocals, bass, minimoog, dolphin drum, trumpet Comments:What was it about electronic music this year, anyway? Somehow it just seems to have found its feet for me. Anyway, I've always liked Laika's music, but this album is a delight. Full of strange and catchy songs and lines, it's the find of music you find yourself humming and trying to remember where it's from. Hey, and there's even a song called "Spooky Rhodes". Have they been listening to Happy? (Neile) almost sleeping epRelease info:1997—Too Pure, P.O. Box 1944, London NW10 SPJ— Pure CD 71 Availability:Wide on release; may be harder to find now Ecto priority:Essential for Laika fans Group members:Margaret Fiedler and Guy Fixsen—samples, guitar, vocals, bass, minimoog, dolphin drum, trumpet Guest artists:Maxwell House—remix Comments:I adore this little four-song ep! The remixes are delightful (this from someone who usually couldn't care less about remixes), and these are the best songs from sounds of the satellites. Highly recommended. (Neile) Good Looking BluesRelease info:2000—Too Pure—Pure 89CD Availability:Wide in the U.K. and U.S. Ecto priority:Essential for ectronica fans Group members:Margaret Murphy Fiedler—vocals, samples, guitar, Rhodes, found sounds, clavinet Guest artists:John Frenett—bass guitar Produced by:Fiedler/Fixsen Comments:A new Laika disc! Very much in the same vein as their earlier discs, which is delightful to me. I could listen to their intriguing mix of whispery, almost-spoken vocals, electronics and traditional instruments forever. Well, at least one wonderful disc longer now. One of my favourite albums of the year. It's really wonderful. (Neile) Lost in Space volume one (1993-2002)Release info:2003—Too Pure—pure 110 cd Availability:Wide in the U.S. and U.K. Ecto priority:Highly recommended for Laika fans Group members:Margaret Fiedler and Guy Fixsen with John Frenett and Lou Ciccotelli Produced by:Guy Fixsen & Margaret Fiedler Comments:This is a two-disc set of Laika favorites, Peel sessions, re-mixes, rarities, and a new unreleased track. Disc 1 flows like an album in and of itself, and while disc 2 doesn't quite have that feel, it's full of good music great versions of tracks. Overall the whole thing is much more playable than usual compilations of this nature. Recommended for all, and essential for Laika fans. (Neile) Everywhere I am I am What is MissingRelease info:2003—Too Pure—pure 141cd Availability:Wide in the U.S. and U.K. Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Margaret Fiedler Produced by:Guy Fixsen & Margaret Fiedler Comments:This is a lovely, mellow-beat Laika disc, my favourite tracks being "Dirty Bird" and "Alphabet Soup". While it doesn't beat Good Looking Blues as my favourite of their albums, I still like it a lot. If you like somewhat laid-back (though still with a beat) electronica, give it a chance. (Neile) Further info:Email Laika |
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