Laika BBC Radio Sessions

Released today (30 July) is the Laika live session, the seventh session from the upcoming BBC Radio Sessions Volume 2, from Beggars Arkive. Spanning decades from 1978 to 2000, each session has been remastered at Abbey Road and pressed to its own 12” clear vinyl record. These sessions capture the raw energy and unique spirit of BBC Radio's Peel Sessions, featuring exclusive recordings from bands on Beggars Banquet, Wiiija & Too Pure.

Formed in the mid-1990s by ex-Moonshake members Margaret Fiedler (vocals / Guitar) and Guy Fixsen (Samples / Guitar) along with John Frenett (bass) and Lou Ciccotelli (drums), Laika found their home on Too Pure, the influential Beggars Group imprint known for championing forward-thinking acts like PJ Harvey and Stereolab. Across four critically acclaimed studio albums, Laika pushed the boundaries of trip-hop, indie rock, and ambient music, gaining a devoted following and significant airplay from the BBC. Too Pure’s support allowed Laika the creative space to develop their complex, genre-blending sound, placing them firmly within the lineage of the UK’s most adventurous alternative acts.

In 2000, Laika recorded a Peel Session for BBC Radio 1 that showcased their richly textured, genre-defying sound. Broadcast on 7 March, the session featured “Looking For The Jackalope,” “Lower Than Stars,” “Badtimes,” and “Go Fish,” offering a raw yet immersive take on the band’s unique fusion of electronica, dub, and post-rock. The performance captured Laika’s signature interplay of Margaret Fiedler’s intimate vocals and Guy Fixsen’s intricate production, blending live instrumentation with electronic elements in a way that felt both organic and futuristic. It was a striking reminder of the band’s quiet innovation at the turn of the millennium. Laika’s 2000 BBC Session stands as a late-period gem in both their catalogue and the BBC archives.