Don't judge this CD by its cover
I first heard Laika on the local independent radio station, and I instantly liked what I heard. Dark, moody, and atmospheric, it was exactly what I needed to hear at that moment. I found their CD (at Amazon, no less!) and bought it soon afterwards. When I received it, I was almost turned away just because of its cover. A kitschy, silly-looking photograph of a moonscape under a plastic "snowglobe" bubble, with the hand-written name of the band and the album scrawled across it -- it frankly doesn't look like much.Putting on a brave face, I started playing it anyway... and was positively delighted with what I heard. The same moody and ambiences I remembered from when I heard it on the radio, but even better, because there were 12 tracks of it.
"Almost Sleeping," the fourth song on the album, is one of the best. An ideal song for driving at night, its steady beat implies motion through dusky air, with Margaret Fielder's soft vocals singing through the gloom. I've put it through its paces, keeping me moving when my own eyelids wanted to close, almost sleeping, but awake and vibrant.
"Shut Off/Curl Up" is a strange, uncomfortable song, but compelling. The repeating vocals, like a mantra, accompany a strong beat and a warbling keyboard sequence. It's a song about trauma and pain and the dark places of the soul where we shut away the world. "If it hurts, push harder." Possibly the best song on the album, though not the easiest to listen to.
The remix of "Blood and Bones," on the other hand, is definitely meant to be a little more fun. Primarily instrumental, with a short vocal sequence at the end, it's a jazzy, upbeat song with an undertone of darkness. They call it the "moody mix," and I can see why.
"Starry Night" sounds like the van Gogh painting that is its namesake, "Martinis on the Moon" is a quirky, curious romp, "Spooky Rhodes" lives up to its name -- each song manages to establish itself well in the short time that it plays. Perhaps the only problem I have with the album as a whole is that it never seems to establish a consistent feel. I get the feeling of bits and pieces from it as I listen, and I enjoy it a great deal, but as a whole it's signified by rapidly-shifting moods and patterns.
This is a good CD, perhaps even great in ways, despite its fragmented sound from song to song. Sometimes trip-hop, sometimes jazz, sometimes fast, sometimes slow -- its somewhat schizophrenic nature may be intentional, but it can be off-putting in the wrong mood. In the right frame of mind, however, it can be just the thing. I dig.
Listen for the extra bonus item several minutes after the end of the last track, about Laika the dog (cheesy but fun!), and just try not to look too much at the cover! Enjoy...
