Laika - Sounds of the Satellites

Laika's follow-up to Silver Apples Of The Moon is a delectable sonic eclipse of that record's Stereolab-isms and post-Krautrock sensibilities. But Sounds of the Satellites isn't retro or copyist: Laika mixes, moulds and melts layers of analog sound into a sublime potpourri that recalls mid-period Cluster, the aforementioned Stereolab, and early-'80s British synthpop.

"Out of Sight and Snowblind" has the identifiable feel of indie-rockers (Laika arose out of the ashes of the Can-referencing Moonshake) who have fallen in love with electronics and exotica, and are milking their Moogs with unbridled enthusiasm and naive delight. A bubbling froth of tin can beats, oozy synth peals and filtered organ curls, the track recalls the contemplative, twilight electro sonnets of bands that flourished on period labels such as C'est La Mort and 4AD (think M1-Alternative, early Moev, Blue Blue Blue and Insides). Laika trade in on numerous styles; rarely are they stationary, tripping on a quasi-hip-hop shuffle ("Almost Sleeping", "Prairie Dog") or percolating synth sambas ("Starry Night"). Sheer aural ecstasy.