Laika & the Cosmonauts

Infobox musical artist
Name = Laika & the Cosmonauts


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Origin = Finland
Genre = Surf rock Instrumental rock Rautalanka
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Label = Yep Roc Records (US) Grandpop Records (Finland)
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Current_members = Mikko Lankinen (guitar) Janne Haavisto (drums) Matti Pitsinki (organ and guitar) and Tom Nyman (bass).
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Laika & the Cosmonauts are a Finnish rock band. They have had the same lineup since they formed in 1987. Their sound is usually described as Surf Rock, but a "Boston Globe" review noted that the band's sound is "far beyond the limitations of any specific genre." [ [http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2004/02/06/laika_and_the_cosmonauts_local_warming/] ] They have toured the United States and Europe several times [ [http://pauseandplay.com/laika.htm] ] . They rely heavily on the Finnish rautalanka tradition. Although relatively unknown in the United States, their music is admired by many musicians, including Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench (of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Mike Palm of Agent Orange, and Surf Rock legend Dick Dale. Al Jourgensen of Ministry has called them "the best fucking band in the world." [ [http://www.yeproc.com/artist_info.php?artistId=617] ]

In addition to their touring, the band has also appeared several times on European television.

Supposedly, the band is named after the Russian cosmonaut/dog Laika.

According to an email sent to the band's mailing list on April 23, 2008, Laika and the Cosmonauts are drawing their twenty year career to a close with an American tour, ending with shows at the Continental Club in Austin, Texas this fall. A compilation album is to be released contemporaneously with the tour.

Discography

*"C'mon Do the Laika" 1988
*"Surfs You Right" 1990
*"Instruments of Terror" 1992
*"The Amazing Colossal Band" 1995
*"Zero Gravity" (US compilation) 1996
*"Absurdistan" 1997
*"Laika Sex Machine" (live) 2000
*"Local Warming" 2004
*"Cosmopolis" 2008

External links

* [http://www.laikaandthecosmonauts.com/index.php3 Laika & the Cosmonauts Homepage]
* [http://www.yeproc.com/artist_info.php?artistId=617 Yep Rock artist homepage]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1914762 2004 NPR interview]
* [http://www.finpop.net/?p=85 Finpop.net interview with Matti Pitsinki]
* [http://www.atomicmag.com/reviews/2001/music/laika.html Review of band's live album from "Atomic Magazine"]

References