Unless you’re a member of the Polar Bear club, you probably wouldn’t consider doing much surfing in Finland. But you could take your tan ’n’ sand dreams from the sauna to the recording studio, like Laika & The Cosmonauts. The Finnish foursome waxes their boards at some far-flung beaches on Local Warming, their latest, all-instrumental disc.

Matti Pitsinki (organ) and Mikko Lankinen (guitar) team for a funky Southern groove on "Liposuction," sounding as if they’re catching a wave on Georgia’s Jeckyll Island. Pitsinki’s keyboard work goes a long way to give the band its diversity, giving "Haroosh" a jazzy, Steely Dan vibe and pouring salsa into the Latin beat of "Meneito Paraiso." The boys toughen up a little for "Mr. Melee," a guitar showcase in which Lankinen drops the twang and just flat out rocks. Don’t worry if you see any "locals only" signs — come on in and join the fun.

Grade: B+