Review of "You Are Here" by Santtu Laakso
Psychotropic Zone, August 2004

Litmus - You Are Here

Litmus is a rather new British space rock band. My first experience of the band was their fine version of "Paradox" on the Daze of the Underground Hawkwind tribute. The band was also playing at the Hawkfan Festival in 2002 and 2003, and they are also on the 2002 festival compilation. This is their first album, and my expectations were high. And the band really didn't disappoint! You Are Here is a great package of Hawkwind-styled heavy space rock. Similar bands include Krel, Spacehead, DarXtar and to some extent Mr. Quimpy's Beard. Litmus has plenty of keyboard, synthesizer and audio generator arsenal: they have as many as three guys playing Hammonds, Mellotrons, Moogs and other kinds of gizmos. This is clearly one of the strengths of the band. In addition, they also have a guitar player, bass player and a drummer, as usual. These three also sing.

This little over one hour long CD has ten tracks, shortest is one minute, longest the last, slow and heavy track "Stone Oscillator (Static Ritual)" being over 20 minutes long. There are really well rocking fast tracks and shorter, more peaceful instrumentals in good balance. The title track is an acoustic one sort of like "Space Is Deep". There are also some influences from Here and Now, for example, and "(Theta Wave) Inductor" sounds like it was a lost track from the Gong's You sessions. The sound is also crystal clear, and so You Are Here is truly an excellent and psychedelic album that can be highly recommended for all fans of the heavy space rock.