Review of "You Are Here" by Matt Howarth
Sonic Curiosity, September 2004

Litmus - You Are Here

This release from 2004 offers 62 minutes of explosive space rock.

This six-man British ensemble (consisting of Andy, Simon, Marek, Martin, Anton, and Matt) create some decidedly loud and forceful space rock that literally gives the masters a run for their sonic money.

The guitars dominate this music, blazing with unnatural fury and clarity, delineating riffs that quite literally eclipse a stellar nova with their assertive outcry. Energetic synthis explode everywhere, bubbling and gurgling like an army of unearthly sounds harnessed by demons determined to command the melodies. The drums pound with manic verve, providing relentless intensity and compelling rhythms. The basslines ooze like charged gluons, forcing a cohesion on the attack mode of the other instruments. The vocals are echo-treated and in-your-face, employing choruses and counterpointing leads expounding on the mysteries of the outer void while tickling inner space with mortal innuendoes.

Attack mode is quite an understatement when it comes to Litmus' music. The songs are compressed entities embodying greater volume that humanly conceivable. The music is dizzyingly dynamic, swiftly reaching a level of exuberance and maintaining an exhaustive pitch throughout their duration. The result of this is a deafened but happy audience, wide-eyed with shock and grinning with stunned pleasure.

Fans of primo Hawkwind will be astounded how rewarding this release is.