Laika & The Cosmonauts are not only Finland's #1 Surf band, they are considered by many to be the greatest rock'n'roll band in all of Scandinavia. That said, describing the Cosmonauts as simply a "surf" band falls short of telling the whole story of these masterful instrumentalists. While the Cosmonauts were initially inspired by such American instro-kings as Dick Dale and The Ventures, Local Warningfinds the band digging deeper into the genre and referencing UK greats The Shadows and legendary producer Joe Meek ("Telstar"). The band's increasing use of layered and overlapping guitar and organ melodies and pounding rhythmic grooves - even dance beats - gives these songs a soundtrack-like, cinematic feel. Laika & The Cosmonauts remain drummer Janne Haavisto; guitarist Mikko Lankinen; organist/guitarist Matti Pitsinki (the only Cosmonaut to ever actually ride a surfboard) and bassist Tom Nyman.
