Laika

Laika is a band founded in 1993 by vocalist/lyricist Margaret Fiedler and producer/engineer Guy Fixsen. Fiedler was previously a member of the Too Pure band Moonshake. Fixsen had worked as a producer and engineer for that band, and also legendary bands such as My Bloody Valentine and The Breeders. Fielder has been the guitarist for legendary British post-punk band Wire since 2008. Musically the band are similar to contemporaries such as Stereolab, what may be described as electronica with dreamy female vocals. ___________________________________________________ Like their namesake — the dog rocketed into orbit by the Soviets renowned as the first living creature to exit the earth's atmosphere — Laika travelled the spaceways, forging a distinct and wildly experimental fusion of hip-hop, jazz, electronica, ambient, dub and Krautrock without earthly precedent. A kind of Too Pure label all-star team comprised of former Moonshake vocalist/programmer Margaret Fiedler and bassist John Frenett, onetime PJ Harvey drummer Rob Ellis and noted producer Guy Fixsen as well as ex-God percussionist Lou Ciccotelli and saxophonist/flautist Louise Elliott, Laika formed in London during the autumn of 1993; their debut EP Antenna appeared the following summer. Silver Apples of the Moon, the group's acclaimed full-length debut, followed in the fall of 1994; after a hiatus, Laika resurfaced with Sounds of the Satellites in early 1997, garnering even greater critical praise. Their most successful album, Good Looking Blues appeared in 2000, preceded by a single Uneasy which was unbelievably a single of the week on Radio 1's Jo Whiley show. Laika continued to tour this album, their profile seemingly at its highest, before retreating back into the studio to work on their fourth album. Around this time Margaret Fiedler also toured with PJ Harvey guesting on guitar duties. A compilation Lost In Space Volume 1 appeared in early 2003 collecting together odds and ends (Peel sessions, b-sides, album and single tracks), before their fourth album Wherever I Am I Am What Is Missing was issued in late 2003. This was to be their final release for Too Pure before the band went on an indefinite hiatus. Even now it is uncertain whether or not Laika will reconvene to issue new recordings. (Margaret has recently joined up with art-pop situationists Wire for their 2008 tour, as a replacement for original guitarist Bruce Gilbert who left the band in 2004. She featured as a touring member only, under her new married name of Mags Fiedler McGinnis)