Litmus (band)
Encyclopedia
History
Litmus are a London-based space rockSpace rock
Space rock is a subgenre of rock music; the term originally referred to a group of early, mostly British, 1970s progressive and psychedelic rock bands such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, characterised by slow, lengthy instrumental passages dominated by electric organs, synthesizers, experimental...
band formed in 2000 by Martin (bass guitar/vocals), Simon (guitar/vocals) and Ben (drums), joined the following year by Andy Thompson (keyboards, 2001-2007) and Anton (synths). Matt Thompson joined on synth (2002-2004), while Marek replaced Ben in 2003. Oli Mayne (keyboards) joined in 2008, then left in 2010, along with Anton. They are influenced by mid-'70s Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, amongst others.
They have played at festivals across the UK and Europe including Yellowstock (Belgium), The Psychotropic Caravan Festival (Finland), Two Days of Love and Peace (Germany), Burg Herzberg (Germany), Stoned from the Underground (Germany), South of Mainstream (Germany), Swamp Room Happening (Germany), Roadburn (Netherlands), Hard Rock Hell (UK), Hawkfest (UK), Sonic Rock (UK), Sonic Rock Solstice (UK), Celtic Warriors (UK), Cambridge Rock Festival (UK), Eastern Haze (UK)(this was not the Litmus appearance that everyone was expecting. Due to transport problems only Simon and Martin were at Eastern Haze at the time they were due to go on stage and so their set was cancelled. However Simon did make a guest appearance during the Omnia Opera set)
In 2009, at the Sonic Rock Solstice festival, Marek played drums for the Hawklords who had undergone an impromptu reforming during the festival from various bands playing there
They have also supported or toured with Arthur Brown, Astra, Witchcraft, Julian Cope, Hawkwind, Space Ritual and The Atomic Bitchwax.
In mid-2010, they returned to Dave Anderson's Foel Studio in North Wales to record their fourth album "Slaughterbahn", which will be mixed at Foel in January 2011.
Albums
| Year | Album details | Track listing |
| 2004 | You Are Here
|
1. Infinity Drive 2. Dreams of Space 3. You Are Here 4. Sonic Light 5. Rays of Sonic Light 6. (Theta Wave) Inductor 7. There 8. I Can't Be Sane 9. Chime 10. Stone Oscillator (Static Ritual) |
| 2007 | Planetfall
|
1. Destroy the Mothership 2. The Tempest 3. Lost Stations 4. Under the Sign 5. Planetfall 6. Psychic Projection 7. Singularity 8. Helios 9. Expanding Universe (Twinstar pt.2) 10. The Machine Age 11. Far Beyond 12. Planetfall/Seti |
| 2009 | Aurora
|
1. Beyond the Sun 2. In the Burning Light 3. Eos 4. Miles Away 5. Stars 6. Kings of Infinite Space 7. Ma:55°N Rift 8. Red Skies |
The band contributed a version of Paradox to the Hawkwind tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
Daze of the Underground.
Invader (a track from the band's early demo tapes) featured on the Hawkfest 2002 compilation album.
Infinity Drive featured on Julian Cope's Head Heritage sampler Due To Lack Of Interest, Tomorrow Has Been Cancelled.