Date: Wed, 22 Oct 1997 10:40:51 -0700 From: Jens Alfke Subject: Review (sort of): Preliminary shopping report LAIKA "Sounds of the Satellites" (Too Pure/Sire) -- The long awaited US release (although at major-label non-sale price of $15.99 it might almost have been an import. Ouch!) Definitely nice stuff and worth the wait. The first half appears to be entirely electronic (plus vocals), with the jazzy real drumming entering around track 6 and guitars somewhat later. Overall I'm not sure about this: Laika with beatbox and no real bass (John Frennet is gone! Sob!!!) loses some of its distinctiveness and charm -- there are a lot of tr*p-h*p/j*ngle artistes mining similar territory, albeit not in 7/4 time.