Laika - 'Lost In Space' (Too Pure)
4/5
By: Toby L
Hear that, boy? That's the sound of the influencable - not the influenced...
Well, although dictionary-huggers will disprove the existence of such a term as 'influencable', at least with Laika - in spite of the colloquialisms that get in the way - the sentiments prove true.
Forever in the background to those that peruse a similar, if slightly more commercial, enhanced form of an aligned sound (hello, Bjork or a particularly stoned Massive Attack), 'Lost In Space' chronicles the often riveting soundtrack to an act whose agenda was always live-instruments over new-fangled, digital fingamajigs. In the favour of the creative twosome behind the imprint - singer Margaret Fielder and knobs-man Guy Fixsen - material originally recorded a decade ago sounds as fresh and soothingly spaced-out as anything presently rocking stoner-clubs or gallivanting eager thirsts in the gradually-subsiding 'chill-out' market.
No surprises then that arch-experimentalists Radiohead felt some affinity towards the matter, basing their 'Kid A' and 'Amnesiac' recording-sessions upon many of Laika's minimalist, electronica-guitar crossover-philosophies; as anticipated, as you skate through the frantic, chasing-through-dark-woods-at-midnight 'Bedbugs', Underworld your way past a 'Laika Virgin Mix' of the compelling 'If You Miss', or straddle down a groove-infested 'T Street', there's a mutual temptation to strut and stroke a muso-beard in the very same journey. And for anyone not accustomed to such an unashamedly, predominantly downbeat set of tones, at least 'Go Fish' nearly sounds like the theme-tune to 'Shaft'... Nearly. Whilst 'Shut Off/Curl Up' is possibly the sexiest song ever.
Even complete with a second CD of rarities, remixes and sessions for the hardcore-fanatics, only the smallest of minds would find it tough to find something amidst the platter of delights herein that didn't inspire a quiet, personal revelation.
Artists in this article: Laika
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