The Standard 5th Oct 2004

Litmus

What a fantastic band. Litmus have their own sound which will appeal to fans of Hawkwind style blanga. They are famous for the wall of sound they produce live, with everything loud but clear. Strong riffs and hypnotically repetetive lyrics are underlaid by tight, competent and imaginitive instrumentation - nobody in this band is just there for the ride.

Review of their album You Are Here

Track 1. Infinity Drive.
A deceptively quiet intro leads into a classic guitar riff supported by superb bass, swirling synths and Hammond organ.This is pure Litmus.

Track 2. Dreams of Space.
This track features a more urgent beat with that guitar, bass and synthesisers again. It takes a blissfully long time to end - settling into a slightly more tranquil but heavy Gong-like coda, before hitting top gear to sprint for the finish line.

Track 3. You Are Here
Ethereal acoustic guitar, almost folky lyrics and a retro feel to this track work extremely well as a way to cool down after the mayhem..

Track 4. Sonic Light
Punky space rock led by keyboards which gets the old foot tapping. Ought to be a single imho. I love this track.

Track 5. Rays of Sonic Light
This is the epilogue to Sonic Light, keys sounding a little like Tony Banks.

Track 6. (Theta Wave) Inductor
Glissando guitar and synths combined with the intro of the bass make me think of Gong. As the track develops it's uniquely Litmus. Another long but excellent ending sees the main theme repeated, varying in style slowly, then coming back with another verse, slowing down and tailing off to ...

Track 7. There
... a synth number with glissando guitar sounding a little like Bentley Rhythm Ace might if they ever featured Steffy Sharpstrings.

Track 8. I Can't Be Sane
Fast paced metal with vocals reminiscent of Iggy Pop overlaid by swirling synths and keyboards.

Track 9. Chime
A womb-like pulse accompanies a clanging bell which moves over for an acoustic guitar and ends abruptly.

Track 10. Stone Oscillator (Static Ritual)
At just over 21 mins long, this track is a fitting end to the album.
Background noise, guitar played backwards, echoing banging sounds, deep sounding prose which fades out before it goes anywhere, the riff builds and drops with strong vocals, anthemic interludes, prominent Hammond organ, subtle lead guitar, changes in pace, almost stops 13 mins in, picks up where it left off but this time the guitar comes to the fore with a solo that Rossington/Collins would have been pleased to have written. Drops back to a heavily echoed acoustic guitar (picked rather than strummed) fading back to the noise which started the track.

Links

http://www.litmusmusic.co.uk/ the band's own website

http://www.headheritage.co.uk/unsung/albumofthemonth/1240 Julian Cope's review of You Are Here, his album of the month December 2004

http://www.starfarer.net/litmuscd.html is a review by Steve Starfarer of You Are Here

http://www.amersynth.com/asm_006.htm is an interview with Litmus (with pics of their appearance at Hawkfest 2002)

http://www.nucleusprog.com.ar/ingles/r-litmus.htm an interview with Litmus in Dec 04

Some clips

(Theta Wave) Inductor from the album.

Infinity Drive from an audience recording of the 15th Jan 2005 gig supporting Ozric Tentacles in Exeter

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