Laika & the Cosmonauts

Laika & the Cosmonauts was founded in 1987 by Mikko Lankinen (guitar), Janne Haavisto (drums), Matti Pitsinki (organ and guitar) and Tom Nyman (bass). The Finnish instrumentalists' first album, C'mon Do The Laika, was released in 1988. Since then, the band has released five more studio albums, all with the same line-up.

But  In the states, Laika & the Cosmonauts have released three original CDs - Instruments of Terror, The Amazing Colossal Band and Absurdistan - as well as a compilation of their early material from C’mon do the Laika and Surfs You Right!

These critically acclaimed releases brought Laika a good amount of radio airplay and won the admiration of music fans and musicians alike, including none other than "king of surf guitar" Dick Dale. Other musician fans include Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers fame, Mike Palm of surf-punk legends Agent Orange, and John Jorgenson of The Hellecasters.

Laika have toured the states six times, including a legendary stint supporting Chicago industrial rockers Ministry on the band's "Filth Pig" tour. Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen, who invited Laika to join them on the stadium tour, has declared them "the best f**king band in the world!" (Check out the band’s live disc, Laika Sex Machine (2000), and you’ll understand why!) The band’s compositions have also been used in numerous films, including Flipper, LA Without A Map, Fox Hunt, Blood and Donuts and The Iron Horsemen. Since the band members are all big fans of movies and soundtrack albums, one of their main goals is to get their music on the big screen.

Overseas, Laika have done dozens of television appearances - including Absolut Live, which is shown throughout Europe – and they’ve been featured on radio shows here and abroad. You might also recognize the band members from their work with such artists as Lemonator, Super, The JPs and Värttinä.

Local Warming, Laika and the Cosmonauts' first new studio album since Absurdistan (1996), will see the light of day in January 2004 on Yep Roc Records. The band's astounding technical proficiency, coupled with the album’s classic Euro-instrumental sound (think The Ventures meets Joe Meek), makes this album a must-hear for instrumental music fans of all stripes. We think you’ll agree that Local Warming is Laika's most accomplished, rockin' release to date!