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Jun 13th, Midnight Sun Film Festival - Festival club, Sodankylä |
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Jul 19th, Sierravuori, Eura |
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Jul 26th, Karmarock, Harjavalta |
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Jul 27th, Kisapuistorock - Päätösklubi Alex Parkissa, Lahti |
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Aug 9th, Twang Fest 2008, Lappeenranta |
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| 023.004.2008 |
Laika & the Cosmonauts will call it a day in November 2008 |
A MESSAGE FROM LAIKA & THE COSMONAUTS
There sometimes comes a time in a band's career when things are still great,
but you can sense that the natural lifespan is nearing the end. It´s
nobody´s fault, there´s no reason for it, it just happens. That´s
where we are with Laika & The Cosmonauts now. We love the band &
music and are very proud of all the gigs and records we´ve done. We
don´t wanna our good career to go where we end up being a bored/boring bar band that plays too few gigs to keep it tight, with the same songs all the time and gradually keeps getting worse and worse and in the process start hating the music and each other. So...
.. when we release the compilation, it will be , not only to
celebrate our 20th anniversary, but also to enhance the enjoyment of our farewell tour
and make it an appropriate finale for the 20 year on the road - we intend to have
fun and play great gigs! We´ll do as many shows as possible in
Finland in august-november and then october in USA.
We´ll be playing the east coast, hopefully the west coast too and then play our final gigs at
the Continental Club in Austin, our home away from home (oct 31st and nov 1st) and...after which we'll have a few beers and relax, you know...
THANK´S EVERYBODY! JOIN US FOR THE CELEBRATION! |
| 013.005.2007 |
Meet Laika & the Cosmonauts also on MySpace |
| 018.002.2007 |
New guestbook entry verification system to fight spam |
Hello Laikaheads!
BIG THANKS to all of You sending messages to us through the guestbook! Keep 'em coming - it's always a thrill to get mail & messages.
We, finally, have made a serious effort in fighting our guestbook spam! You now have to verify Your guestbook entry by writing the given random code letters into the empty box next to them.
It's really simple:
after completing Your message, write the given letters in the empty field and click on SEND.
Nothing, of course is 100% sure, but at least for now the guestbook seems to be free for the more sincere messages.
Lately the spam on the guestbook got totally out of hand.
We felt we didn't really need all that Viagra yet, anyway.... The offered amount of Diazepams wouldn't work with the fast Laika tempos, either ... :)
Spamlessly devoted to You
The Laikas |
| 025.002.2006 |
Live accompaniment to Fritz Langs Metropolis 30.04.06 |
Laika & The Cosmonauts will perform a live accompaniment to Fritz Langs silent film classic "Metropolis" 30.04.06 in Bio Rex, Helsinki. |
| 021.009.2005 |
Reminder: Local Warming available on iTunes |
Arf!
It´s also possible to download L&tC music on iTunes
http://www.apple.com/itunes
Search for the album Local Warming by Laika & the Cosmonauts.
Best,
L&tC |
| 023.004.2004 |
Quentin Tarantino finally substantiates the rumour |
The agony of a decade for many has finally come to an end.
Endless speculations worldwide have been uttered on the issue of wether Quentin Tarantino likes Laika & the Cosmonauts´ music.
Today (April 23rd.2004) Q.T. appeared on an interview made by a reporter for Friday´s NOW edition of Finland´s biggest daily newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat.
The Laika translation office has been working on the double to get the scoop out and into the world.
And here it is:
TARANTINO CALLED
-The film director called and told us that he´s got a new movie coming out and that Uma Thurman is really beautiful and that in films sex is the most boring thing that exists and that he likes the rock band from Helsinki, Laika & the Cosmonauts.
... According to another rumour the Helsinki based rock group Laika & the Cosmonauts belongs among the favorite bands of Tarantino and that the band´s music was considered for the film Pulp Fiction.
Have You heard of the Band?
"I have not only heard of them - I have their records", Tarantino announces.
Are You going to use them in Your films?
"I have not used them yet", Tarantino politely replies.
"But I like them and if they have the perfect song for a film, I will use them."
Sounds like another Laikahead has just officially come out of the closet.
Arf,
The Laikas |
| 021.004.2004 |
Local Warming related reviews and interviews on the web |
"Lots of masterful surfadelic and fuzz-drenched guitar playing, the arrangements are surprisingly sophisticated, and the Meekish production is out of this world - with plenty of pumping compression, spring reverb washes, and other early '60s touches."
--Guitar Player Magazine
"The instrumental evolution of Finland’s Laika & the Cosmonauts continues with their new release Local Warming. "
http://www.zptdudamusic.com/laika/index.shtml
Kaleva, Oulu:
http://www.kaleva.fi/cf/osasto.cfm?Depa=149
The Boston Globe:
Laika and the Cosmonauts: Local Warming
By Sarah Tomlinson, Boston Globe Correspondent, 2/6/2004
"While Laika & the Cosmonauts enjoy the irony of boasting that they are Finland's number one surf band, they push their lushly layered soundscapes far beyond the limitations of any specific genre. Such sonic daring keeps their music fresh, even on "Local Warming," which is their sixth studio album written within the limited parameters of instrumental music flavored by retro guitars and keyboards. Their influences are boundless, as they slide between a slinky spy theme and uber-gooey '70s pop on "The Key Role" while "Rikki on the Loose" bursts with a joyous classic rock riff underpinned with a reedy piano melody and "Liposuction" has a swaggering soul groove and wild, cartwheeling organ. While fans who first fell for the band's surf authenticity may be surprised by the slick, almost free-jazz guitar noodling on songs like "Haroosh," no matter how far out the band goes, their songs always abound with uniquely dreamy and vividly detailed texture. "Meneito Paraiso" is built around a rollicking blues rock riff that's more Aerosmith than Dick Dale, and "Mr. Melee" has a thick-as-molasses bass line perfect for banging your head. Showing that sometimes sticking to one beloved genre is the perfect means for touching an infinite number of others, the band releases another ambitious, lovingly detailed album with cinematic scope."
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2004/02/06/laika_and_the_cosmonauts_local_warming/
From Kentucky:
Lexington Herald-Leader:
Critic's pick
Laika and the Cosmonauts
Local Warming
"Ever wonder how American surf music would be perceived in, say, Scandinavia? Here's the answer. Laika and the Cosmonauts are promoted as Finland's No. 1 surf band, which might not mean squat to us in the good ol' U.S.A. But this is no novelty act. The band is equally adept at deconstructing such instruction and reassembling it for a fun instrumental sound all its own. The Key Role passes its playful '60s groove between organist Matti Pitsinki and guitarist Mikko Lankinen while the funky shuffle Liposuction augments choppier guitar leads with fusion-style electric piano. Forget that you've never heard of these guys. Local Warming is one of the winter's best musical retreats"
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/entertainment/7822255.htm
"Sävellykset uusimmalla cd:llä ovat, elleivät ihan sibeliaanisia, niin ainakin pekka pohjolaismaisia."
Erkki Lehtola, Hifi -lehti
http://www.hifilehti.fi/levyarviot/default.asp?arvostelut=Pop-Rock
Interview with Matti in English on http://www.finpop.net
"Of course, if You`re an instrumental band, You do not have to worry about any language barriers! "
.."All of the Laikas have always listened to a wide spectre of music ranging from Classical to Country, from Funk via Folk to Film music, from Ska to Soul, from Roots to Reggae, from Polka to Punk, from Latin to Lederhosen, etc.... "
http://www.finpop.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=176
"Local Warming kicks off in classic Cosmonauts style with cascading hooks delivered by sour, wiggly guitars and a punchy bed of go-go drums and majestic electric organ. The band next takes its quirky, melodic, tangy twang into Euro/spy-soundtrack territory with “The Key Role.” The Cosmonauts continue that outward, exploratory trajectory beyond mere “surf” for the rest of the disc. Through a wide gamut of '60s and '70s soundtrack-inspired rock instrumentals, the combo successfully manages to take distinctive ownership of even its questionable journeys into soul and funk. "
Cleveland Freetimes.com
http://www.freetimes.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=900
" Finland's Laika and the Cosmonauts lend cool new hooks, edginess and cinematic depth to the instrumental "surf" music genre on "Local Warming" (Yep Roc). A-minus "
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/entertainment/music/7636965.htm
Local Warming review in Finnish on desibeli.net
http://desibeli.net/modules.php?name=Reviews2&rop=showcontent&id=842
Local Warming Review in Finnish on ILTALEHTI:
Odotus on kannattanut
Laika & The Cosmonauts: Local Warming (Grandpop Records, 2004)
"Laika & The Cosmonautsien levyä on saatu odotella kotvan aikaa - edellinen studiolätty ilmestyi vuonna 1997. Local Warming aloittaa 12-raitaisen taipaleensa varsin leppoisissa ja viattomissa tunnelmissa, mutta päätösbiisi Mr. Meléen raikuessa meno on aivan kuin toiselta planeetalta. Laika-nelikko ottaa instrumenttejaan lähes väkisin.
Vaikka "perinteinen" sähkökitarointia sisältävä instrumentaalimusiikki saisikin käsikarvat sojottamaan inhotuksesta, Local Warming on sellainen eri aineksien soppa, että alkutahtien jälkeen ei ole paluuta. Albumi on varsin salakavalaa sorttia. Ensin se esittelee vietellen meninkiään, sitten kiskaisee kuulijan musiikin syövereihin. Omassa kategoriassaan Laika & The Cosmonauts on tämän albumin kuuntelun jälkeen ehtoton suosikkini.
Kokonaisuudessa kuuluu ammattitaito ja irrottelun positiivinen leima. Tuo hyvän fiiliksen tekeminen on onnistuttu välittämään myös kuulijan ulottuville. "
Heta Hyttinen / Iltalehti 24/01/04
Interview w Matti in Finnish:
http://www3.soneraplaza.fi/musiikki/artikkeli/0,3634,6213_189484,00.html
Interview w Matti in English.
"If you heard us sing, you'd understand why," he said. "It's an instrumental band, for crying out loud. We don't sing, rule No. 1."
http://www.pauseandplay.com/column.htm
"Laika & The Cosmonauts have that special sound, that certain something, and it's all there. It is definitely there."
http://www.surfrockmusic.com/laika.html
"With Local Warming, Laika and the Cosmonauts have fashioned a work that defines and transcends simple genre tags."
Cincinnati City beat
http://www.citybeat.com/current/musicshorttakes.shtml
"Mixed over pounding, urgent rhythms and smoother, even danceable grooves, these instrumentals rate with classics from the likes of Dick Dale, The Ventures, Joe Meek, Montenegro and Schifrin, throwing contemporary vim and vigor into the production."
http://store.milesofmusic.com/prodinfo.asp?number=28899&variation=&aitem=29&mitem=36
..." it's all delivered with an expansive spirit of adventure that crucially never loses its tasteful sense of history, even as it forcefully blows a few cobwebs from the twang-centric instrumental rock repertoire."
http://www.solango.com/music/Styles/Rock/Rock_Guitarists/PID0000000a0000436b306161614d494232/Local_Warming/
"If you like ‘em, this will be a treat. If you think you might like ‘em but have never had the honour of hearing ‘em, now’s your chance."
http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2004/01/1204.cfm
"Helppoahan se on, kun on maailman paras siinä, mitä tekee."
http://roklintu.blogspot.com/ |
| 020.001.2004 |
Local Warming posted : www.mtv.com, www.billboard.com |
| 008.012.2003 |
NEW ALBUM release posted on WWW.ROLLINGSTONE.COM |
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