Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

This is a colossal career spanning set of tracks from a band that's been at it for 20 years, and has announced that they are hanging up their spurs toward the end of 2008. Only two new tracks here, but if you're not already immersed in their work, then this is for you. No artwork yet.

Picks: Metropolis Theme, Floating, Rikki On The Loose, Note Crisis, Experiment In Terror, Global Village, Disconnected, Crosstown Canyon, Turquoise, Surf's You Right, Look! No Head!, Vendetta, Psyko, C'mon Do The Laika, Fear, Boris The Conductor, Lands End, Circumstantial Evidence, Delayrium, N.Y. '79, Expose', Get Carter, Fadeaway, The Ipcress File, Meneilo Paraiso, S.P.Y.D.A.'s Web, Mary's Theme

Surf (Instrumental)

"Metropolis Theme" is a gentle number with sultry guitar and organ. Slow drama unfolds at a measured pace.

Euro Surf (Instrumental)

Thick and swirly Euro instro, with a great melody and a slightly muddy sound. The overall effect is of an eighties instro with a surf rhythm guitar pattern played dry. Very nice effect, almost synthetic and bubbly.

Rock Lite (Instrumental)

Perhaps the most rockin' track here, "Rikki On The Loose" is a fun open road adventure with dry chop rhythms and a memorable melody. Well textured and almost thick, it's a playful yet cool blend of sounds and styles.

Euro (Instrumental)

Tribal drums and urgent reverbed guitar play a saucy spy feeling thing with a ska beat and lots of energy. The vibrato is dangerous and the double picking almost Venetian. Cool track.

Euro (Instrumental)

Henry Mancini' "Experiment In Terror" is oozed out with more dementia than the ventures used. Moody organ lead and near surf backing. Very moody and weird.

Euro (Instrumental)

Euro almost "Telstar" feel, with the organ in the lead over a rhythmic backtrack. Not their most interesting, but one of their more unusual tracks. It is melodic and friendly.

Euro (Instrumental)

This is one bizarre little ditty. The percussion is most unique, with timbales and a saucy bass line. The tune rolls along with a pulsating feel. It ain't no surf tune, but it's so cool! What happens when you merge Euro stylings with Latin American percussion sounds and twangy guitar? You get disconnected.

Rock Lite (Instrumental)

This is a warm track with an open air feel and long flowing guitar notes. Imagine a cross between Duane Eddy's long notes, the Shadows' echo, and the slow whammy of the Dutch tradition, and you get an idea of what this sounds like.

Euro (Instrumental)

This charming Euro tune has a warm and round tone to it. The melody line is more about using the fret board than a melody, like a gypsy progression. Quite stunning, and fun.

Surf (Instrumental)

Shreddin' ska backed raging surf, with screams of joy sprinkled in, and a bridge that's unique and out of this world. Melodic, low-E growling, spiffy glissandos, and even a tiny bit of the old double pick.

Euro (Instrumental)

Thick fuzz drenched chunk rhythm guitar over a galloping neat and a large amount of dark edge. This is quite a departure for Laika and the Cosmonauts. Nasty and mean.

Euro (Instrumental)

Slow and sultry, "Vendetta" shines with Italian mobster charm. Highly stylized, beautifully played, and lushly arranged. Excellent.

Euro (Instrumental)

Big scary theme music, with the organ playing the lead. Atmospheric and almost carnival like.

Euro (Instrumental)

Progression based Euro instro instro. It's a fun though slightly weird track, with almost muddy sound and keys and guitars. Not their best track, but typically early Laika and the Cosmonauts.

Euro (Instrumental)

The Ventures' version of this is more thin and terror laden , while this is more haunted, and sports almost vibraphone guitar tones. Really a nice cover.

Euro (Instrumental)

Crunch comes to Laika and the Cosmonauts in this track. It's a progression and lead exercise combination that is precise and nerve wracking, but not very interesting after about half the song passes. Too little melody and too much repetition.

Euro (Instrumental)

This Shadows-like tune has that Hank Marvin tone and melody styling that is so much theirs. The big guitar twang is nice, but for my money, it seems like just another Euro guitar instro.

Euro (Instrumental)

Seventies funk and bongos, smooth soft wah wah, tinkly echoed piano, and atmospheric sounds support a pretty but unremarkable melody. As a backdrop for a cocktail party, it would be fine. For intent listening, I found it to be dismissible.

Euro (Instrumental)

Tweaky churny pumpy theme music... not very interesting, but very playful.

Rock Lite (Instrumental)

Warbly whammy and churning organ swirl this eastern European melody into a melange of slightly sad sounds. There's a bit of optimism too, but "NY 79" seems mostly to be a sigh over spilt milk.

Euro (Instrumental)

A ska beat and a pumping bass support a whirling organ tune. Floating and dramatic.

Euro (Instrumental)

Moody floaty organ film score stuff, with exotic percussion and organ lead.

Euro (Instrumental)

Slow and silky romantic easy to swallow melodic and smooth. This is quite a pretty song, and the guitar work is delicate and tasty.

Euro (Instrumental)

John Barry's film score presented in shimmering vibrato against an almost carnival organ. Interesting and spooky.

Rock Lite (Instrumental)

Almost Doors like in the intro, this playful song is like a cool carnival theme. Playful, and yet a little sad.

Euro (Instrumental)

Spy theme eerily portrayed with a spooky sound and martini glass suavitude.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Mary's Theme" is a soft and lovely piece, ending the CD much as it began. Emotional and moving. The gently tribal drums are almost subliminal, adding a bit of mystery.