Laika (band)

Last updated

Laika
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Years active1993–2003
Labels Too Pure
Past members

Laika were an English band formed in 1993 and helmed by Margaret Fiedler (lead vocals, programming) and Guy Fixsen (guitar, programming). [2] [5] Their lineup also included John Frenett (bass), Lou Ciccotelli (drums), Louise Elliot (flute, saxophone), and Rob Ellis (drums). [2] [5] Laika were founded following Fiedler and Frenett's departure from the band Moonshake; Laika's other members had previously worked with different artists on the roster of Moonshake's label Too Pure. [2] Laika's experimental style blended diverse genres, including electronica, krautrock, dub, hip hop, and jazz. [2] They released their debut album Silver Apples of the Moon in 1994, and followed with 1997's Sounds of the Satellites , both to critical praise. [2] Laika released two subsequent albums, 2000's Good Looking Blues and 2003's Wherever I Am I Am What Is Missing, after which they entered an indefinite hiatus.

Contents

History

1993: Formation

Margaret Fiedler moved from New York City to London in 1989 in search of music which better suited her interests. The first significant band she joined was Moonshake, in which she was one of two lead vocalists, a songwriter and a multi-instrumentalist predominantly playing guitar, keyboards and samplers. Moonshake's songwriting was split between Fiedler and co-vocalist David Callahan, who had a very different style: Callahan favoured an art-punk storytelling approach with a dub/funk undercurrent while Fiedler preferred a more enveloping and abstract approach drawing on rhythmic krautrock-esque loops and murmured vocals. The early Moonshake records, released on the Too Pure label, were engineered by the producer Guy Fixsen, who had also worked with bands including My Bloody Valentine and The Breeders.[ citation needed ]

The creative tensions in Moonshake ultimately became personal and the band broke up after a tour of the United States in 1993. While Callahan kept the Moonshake name and continued the band (along with the drummer Mig Morland and various guest musicians), Fiedler and the band's bass guitarist John Frenett both left. Fiedler began working with Guy Fixsen as her writing and recording partner, as well as beginning a romantic relationship with him. The new partnership, with Frenett playing bass guitar, continued to develop the approach Fiedler had taken with her songs in Moonshake.[ citation needed ] The band named themselves after the Russian dog Laika, the first animal to orbit the Earth.

1994–2000: Active recording and performance

In Laika's first incarnation, Fiedler, Fixsen, and Frenett were augmented by the flautist and saxophonist Louise Elliot and the drummer Lou Ciccotelli (God, Eardrum, SLAB!). On recordings and in live shows, Fiedler and Fixsen shared guitar, keyboards and sampling, with Fiedler doing most of the vocals. The group's first album was the acclaimed Silver Apples of the Moon , released on Too Pure in 1994. Shortly afterwards, Rob Ellis (PJ Harvey, Spleen) joined as an occasional second drummer and percussionist.[ citation needed ]

The band quickly became popular interviewees in the alternative and underground music press, its music praised for mingling intricacy, polish and accessibility with experimentation and originality. In 1995, Fiedler described her band's music as "just like trip-hop, but much much faster" and declared her distaste for the then-current Britpop, citing a preference for jazz and dub. [6] She later recalled that "Guy and I were interested in rhythm but couldn't get excited about 4
4. So, influenced by bands like The Young Gods, we wanted to take rock rhythms and turn them upside down. 7 is great!" [7]

In 1996, Laika contributed to the AIDS benefit album Offbeat: A Red Hot Soundtrip , produced by the Red Hot Organization.

Laika's second album, Sounds of the Satellites , was released in early 1997. Many of the previous album's more abrasive edges were smoothed away in favour of a sleeker, though not much less experimental, dance tone. The group continued to attract a lot of press attention, particularly when they supported Radiohead on tour, and continued to be an underground favourite, despite not having a hit. A third album, Good Looking Blues , was released in 2000. The same year, Fiedler played in PJ Harvey's backing band on an extensive world tour promoting Harvey's album Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea . On this tour, she played guitar, cello and other instruments. [8] In 2003, Laika released a collection of singles, B-sides, and rarities entitled Lost in Space: Volume 1 (1993–2002). [7]

2003: Final recordings and hiatus

Up until 2003, each Laika release had been a full band recording involving, at the very least, Elliot and Frenett as players. This changed in 2003 with Wherever I Am I Am What Is Missing, which was recorded by Fiedler and Fixsen alone but with Lou Ciccotelli remaining as the percussionist. The band were dismayed by the album's poor commercial reception, apparently selling less than any of its predecessors. Fiedler has subsequently blamed online file sharing for Laika's sudden dip in sales, commenting: "We (had) sold steadily more and more until the last one which didn't do so well. And that coincided time-wise with everyone getting broadband. People were still coming to see the live shows, so go figure." [7]

At around this time, Fiedler and Fixsen ended their romantic relationship. Although they maintained their musical partnership, the band's working life began to become strained. In 2009, Fiedler commented that "we were a couple both personally and professionally for a long time – over ten years – and the personal side of that is over and sometimes it's difficult to work together", citing the recently defunct Stereolab as a similar example of a band driven by a central romantic partnership which suffered professionally once that relationship had ended. [7]

In 2005, Fiedler opted to devote most of her time to law school, something which she has cited as ensuring that "the band stopped being a going concern". Fixsen also took time out in order to travel the world. [7] There were no formal announcements of a Laika break-up but the band has not released anything since Wherever I Am I Am What Is Missing. Laika is also no longer listed in the roster on the Too Pure homepage.

Post-Laika work and possible future activity

Fixsen continues to work as a sound engineer and producer. He co-produced English musician Lonelady's 2010 album Nerve Up . [9] Fiedler, now known by her married name of Mags McGinnis, has divided time between several ventures, including music, writing, candlemaking, working in copyright law for the BBC, and running the rights clearance service Mineral Point Music Ltd. [8] [10] She played rhythm guitar for English rock band Wire on their 2008 tour of Europe and North America, replacing Bruce Gilbert. [10] Fiedler has stated that "the decline of album sales due to illegal downloads made [her] recording and songwriting careers less financially viable". [10]

Fixsen has claimed that Laika are "taking a break" with about half of an album already recorded, and that he and Fiedler will reconvene and complete the tracks at a future date. While Fiedler has not entirely discounted this suggestion or stated that Laika have formally split up, she has cited the difficulties of working with a former romantic partner on any project, as well as the obstacle of her current work. She has, however, admitted that it would be "great to finish (the album)" as well as to play some shows and tour some of the places which Laika did not visit during the band's active lifetime. [7]

Sound

Musically, the band drew from a variety of sources, including dub, trip hop, and drum and bass, as well as more atmospheric and "dreamy" pop approaches. [11] Their work utilizes both electronic and organic approach to songwriting with live drums and percussion, together with guitars and samples, creating a complex layered and polyrhythmic blend of beats and diverse analogue sounds that defies simple categorization. They were among the first wave of bands to be classified as post-rock; [12] in a 1994 article in Melody Maker profiling the genre, journalist Simon Reynolds described Laika's sound as a "blend of machine-music and flesh-and-blood funk... combining the 'magical', superhuman effects of sampling with the 'warmth' that comes from real-time interaction between players". [13]

Discography

Studio albums

Compilations

Singles and EPs

Tracks on various artists compilations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beth Orton</span> English musician (born 1970)

Elizabeth Caroline Orton is an English musician, known for her "folktronica" sound, which mixes elements of folk and electronica. She was initially recognised for her collaborations with William Orbit, Andrew Weatherall, Red Snapper and the Chemical Brothers in the mid-1990s. Her UK/US first solo album, Trailer Park, received much critical acclaim in 1996. Orton developed a devoted audience with the release of the BRIT Award-winning album Central Reservation (1999) and the 2002 UK top 10 album, Daybreaker. Her 2006 album, Comfort of Strangers, was followed by a break during which Orton gave birth to her daughter and collaborated with the British guitarist Bert Jansch. Orton returned with Sugaring Season in 2012, which moved towards a purer acoustic sound, followed by a return to electronic music with Kidsticks, released in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Bloody Valentine (band)</span> Irish-English alternative rock band

My Bloody Valentine are an Irish-English alternative rock band formed in Dublin in 1983 and consisting since 1987 of founding members Kevin Shields and Colm Ó Cíosóig, with Bilinda Butcher and Debbie Googe (bass). Often cited as a pioneering act in the shoegaze genre, their sound is characterized by dissonant guitar textures, subdued and androgynous vocals, and unorthodox production techniques.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PJ Harvey</span> English musician (born 1969)

Polly Jean Harvey is an English singer-songwriter. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments.

<i>Rid of Me</i> 1993 studio album by PJ Harvey

Rid of Me is the second studio album by the English singer-songwriter PJ Harvey, released on 26 April 1993 by Island Records, approximately one year after the release of her critically acclaimed debut studio album Dry (1992). It marked a departure from Harvey's previous songwriting, being more raw and aggressive than its predecessor.

The Ecstasy of Saint Theresa is a Czech alternative rock band formed in 1990 by Jan Muchow, Jan Gregar, Petr Wegner, and Irna Libowitz.

Piano Magic was a musical collective formed in the summer of 1996 by Glen Johnson, Dominic Chennell, and Dick Rance in London, England. Their sound has been described as ambient pop, post-rock, indietronica, dark wave, "arty baroque pop" and "English radiophonic soundscapers". While later releases saw them operating in a traditional band format, they originally intended to base their recordings around their small nucleus and whoever else would like to contribute. Glen Johnson was the only remaining member from the original trio when the group disbanded in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masters of Reality</span> American rock band

Masters of Reality is an American rock band formed in 1981 by frontman Chris Goss and guitarist Tim Harrington in Syracuse, New York, United States. They took the name for the band from a misprinted label of the third Black Sabbath album. Goss has remained the only constant band member.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Young Gods</span> Swiss rock band

The Young Gods are a Swiss industrial rock band from Fribourg, formed in 1985. The original lineup of the band featured singer Franz Treichler, sampler player Cesare Pizzi and drummer Frank Bagnoud. For most of their history, the band maintained a trio format with a singer, a sampler player and a drummer, albeit with multiple line-up changes. Treichler is the band's sole consistent member; the current line-up also features Pizzi and drummer Bernard Trontin. During their career, the band have extensively collaborated with producer Roli Mosimann.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Pure</span> British independent record label

Too Pure Records was a London-based independent record label formed in 1990 by Richard Roberts and Paul Cox. The label gained prominence after the release of PJ Harvey's debut studio album Dry in 1992, and subsequently found further success in the late 1990s and early 2000s with albums by indie rock artists such as Mclusky and Electrelane. The label was closed in 2008.

Margaret Fiedler McGinnis is a London-based American vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and rights administrator. She is best known as a founding member of UK indie groups Moonshake and Laika, as live guitarist with PJ Harvey and Wire and as the owner/operative of Mineral Point Music Ltd.

I Am Ghost was an American post-hardcore band from Long Beach, California, United States, conceived of and founded by Steven Juliano in 2004. They were signed to Epitaph Records from 2005 to 2010, before splitting up in July 2010. They briefly reunited on April 28, 2016.

<i>Giant Steps</i> (The Boo Radleys album) 1993 studio album by the Boo Radleys

Giant Steps is the third studio album by the Boo Radleys, released in 1993. The title is inspired by John Coltrane's album of the same name, and the record features an assortment of influences — their previous shoegazing sound backed by pop, reggae, noise pop and orchestral sounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moonshake</span> British experimental rock/post-rock band

Moonshake were a British-based experimental rock/post-rock band, existing between 1991 and 1997. The only consistent member was singer/sampler player/occasional guitarist David Callahan, who initially co-led the project with Margaret Fiedler. The band was notable for its extensive use of textures and sampler technology in a rock context.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Frenett</span> Musical artist

John Frenett is an English bassist, best known for his slippery dub-style playing in the bands Moonshake and Laika in the 1990s.

Long Fin Killie were a Scottish experimental rock/post-rock band, which released three albums and several EPs on the British avant-rock label Too Pure in the 1990s.

<i>Silver Apples of the Moon</i> (Laika album) 1994 studio album by Laika

Silver Apples of the Moon is the debut studio album by British band Laika. It was released through Too Pure in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Versa (band)</span> American rock duo

Versa was an American rock duo formed in Port St. Lucie, Florida, in 2006, as VersaEmerge. The group consisted of Blake Harnage and Sierra Kay. They had a revolving line-up, their most prolific being with bassist Devin Ingelido, who was a member from 2007 until 2011.

<i>Sounds of the Satellites</i> 1997 studio album by Laika

Sounds of the Satellites is the second studio album by British band Laika. It was released through Too Pure in 1997.

<i>Good Looking Blues</i> 2000 studio album by Laika

Good Looking Blues is the third studio album by British band Laika. It was released through Too Pure on 28 February 2000. The album peaked at number 37 on the UK Independent Albums Chart.

<i>Eva Luna</i> (album) 1992 studio album by Moonshake

Eva Luna is the debut studio album by British band Moonshake. It was released through Too Pure in October 1992.

References

  1. ↑ Dick, Steven J. (2008). Remembering the Space Age. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Office of External Relations, History Division. ISBN   9780160817236 . Retrieved 6 January 2020.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ankeny, Jason. "Laika – Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  3. ↑ "Post-Rock". AllMusic . Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Schroeder, Amy (9 August 2000). "Laika's Spooky Electronics Enhance Imaginative Lyrical Tales" . Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  5. 1 2 Paoletta, Michael, ed. (26 August 2000). "Laika: Good Looking Blues". Billboard . Vol. 112, no. 35. p. 21. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "Laika". Indie-List. Vol. 4, no. 39. 24 September 1995. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "History Lesson: Laika, Moonshake and the great Margaret Fiedler". The Dumbing of America. 26 October 2009. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  8. 1 2 "margaret fiedler mcginnis". Magsmcginnis.com. Archived from the original on 13 January 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  9. ↑ Raposa, David (8 March 2010). "LoneLady: Nerve Up". Pitchfork . Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 "Mags McGinnis". Magsmcginnis.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  11. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "Sounds of the Satellites – Laika". AllMusic . Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  12. ↑ Abebe, Nitsuh (11 July 2005). "The Lost Generation". Pitchfork . Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  13. ↑ Reynolds, Simon (23 July 1994). "R U Ready to Post-Rock?". Melody Maker . pp. 42–43.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.