Amazing Colossal Band

Laika & The Cosmonauts

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 7, 1995)
• Original Release Date: 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Upstart
• ASIN: B000003NOW
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #151,379 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Rock > Rock Guitarists > Surf Guitar

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
You wouldn't think of the frigid waters in the Gulf of Bothnia as prime surfing territory, but Finland, on the gulf's east, is home to one of the world's best surf bands, Laika & the Cosmonauts. Mikko Lankinen and Janne Haavisto are not your typical southern California beach names either, but this guitarist and drummer have affectionately and accurately recreated the pre-Beach Boys, surf-instrumental sound of Dick Dale, the Belairs, and the Challengers. On their second U.S. release, The Amazing Colossal Band, Laika & the Cosmonauts put a new emphasis on the frat-rock organ of Matti Pitsinki and on original compositions. In contrast to Dale's often relentless surf-guitar assault, the Finns offer a more varied palette, contrasting Lankinen's slow, distorted guitar lines against the rhythm section's brisk, staccato backing, and alternating lazy, atmospheric numbers. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surf/Spy Hip Gnosis, February 15, 2001

By	Dupek Chopra "sark2000" (MD United States) - See all my reviews

It would be too easy to discount the sound on this album as being too Austin Powers-like. A more fair description would be: It's atomic, Len Deighton-like. Listening to this disc makes one nostalgic for the cold war. This is celluloid inspired music for the B-movie that is your life. A plastic organ surely belongs in the forefront of surf sounds?! Skater Dater is an anthem of unbridled delinquency. This band has a polished, yet sex-waxy feel. If you fancy Hawaiian guitars, go elsewhere. But if you dig 60s surf-on-steroids then you've found some aural saltwater taffy. This isn't your father's Woody wagon.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is serious fun, wired and inspired!, July 10, 1999

By A Customer

When I first purchased this CD on a whim I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing. Would I listen to it once and put it away in some darkened recess of my room? Or would I listen to it over and over and over. Well, I'm (happy?) to report that it's the latter. This is pure inspiration! Their energy and enthusiasm is transmitted right through the speakers! These guys swing, funk, and rock like no others. Who knew that surf music could be made into high art? I can't wait to hear their other CDs. Jim-Bob says "Check 'em out!"

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for everyone who loves hair raising organ sounds, June 21, 1998

By A Customer

Do you want to be taken to the planet of yesterday's tomorrows where you can hear music from old tv-series and movies played in an eerie way by a band dressed in hawaii shirts? Then the first step is to buy this Laika & The Cosmonauts CD. Hair raising organ sounds and excellent guitars, that is what this record is all about. If listening to Telstar or old Ventures classics is your idea of good time then I seriously recommend you to listen to this band.