Litmus emerged from the so-called space-rock genre in the late 1990’s. However, from the outset, the band were never throwbacks to the likes of Hawkwind and Gong – their sound was fresh, contemporary and urgent. Maintaining a compelling and instantly recognisable sound of close harmony vocals, driving bass-lines, intense guitar riffing and frantic drumming, set against a backdrop of melodic mellotron and organ sounds and sprinkled liberally with analogue synthesizer effects, the band have more than lived up to the their mantra: ‘always changing, always the same’. Indeed, three acclaimed albums later, You are Here (Space Music), Planetfall and Aurora (both on Rise Above Records) the Litmus back catalogue is broad: it encompasses everything from atmospheric sound-scapes, to garage psychedelia, grunge and metal - a wide range of moods and textures punctuated by compelling song-writing, evolving though always imbued with a signature sound. As a live act Litmus never fail to impress: they have taken the alternative rock contingent at UK and European venues and festivals by storm for over a decade now, winning Best Heavy Rock Act at the 2008 Indy Awards. Still recognisable as having an otherworldly quality, the Litmus sound nevertheless appeals more widely to fans of hard rock, metal (particularly the stoner/doom variety), garage and punk, as well as adherents of Krautrock and electronica. Their live show is powerful yet melodic, and involves a light show including lasers, strobes and projections. Litmus was formed by Martin and Simon in 1999 as part of a covert operation to discover the true nature of spacerock. Child prodigy Ben Weedon was drafted in on drums and the band relocated to a basement beneath Finsbury Park to record two now highly sought-after cassette demos. Word of mouth saw the tapes distributed to locations across the globe and this line-up, augmented by long time collaborator Anton of Stoke (noises/electronic devices) and the Thompson brothers, Andy and Matt (Mellotron and Moog) played a series of underground gigs, culminating with the band opening the first 'Hawkfest' in Devon. Drummer Marek joined the ranks in 2003, work starting immediately on the cult classic debut album 'You Are Here' with recording taking place in a Camden rehearsal studio and a front room in Manor House. The band by this time had attracted the attentions of entrepreneur/manager Colin J. Allen who released the album on his 'Space Music' label. Released in 2004, 'You are Here' is widely recognised as one of the finest examples of its genre, the legendary Julian Cope citing 'You are Here' as his album of the month and inviting the band to support him on his 2005 January tour. Thus followed a year of gigging across the UK and Europe, high energy renditions of now-classic numbers combining with intense jamming and trademark psychedelic lightshow to cement the bands reputation as an electrifying live act. The first months of 2006 saw the band snowed in at Foel Studios, North Wales recording the magnum 'Planetfall' opus eventually released to widespread critical acclaim on Rise Above records. After digging the van free and negotiating treacherous snowbound trails the band returned to London to thaw out the valve amps and analogue oscillators, finding time to air the new material at several appearances on the UK festival circuit. Following the departure of the Thompson Brothers, Litmus returned to Foel as a four piece to record third album 'Aurora', before embarking on a series of now legendary gigs across UK and Europe, including a monumental set at Swamp room festival, Hannover ending at 8am the following morning when the bar ran dry. Following a triumphant late-night set at Holland's Roadburn festival, Litmus returned to London to win Best Heavy Rock Act at the Indy Awards. 'Aurora' was released in 2009 on Rise Above records, and quickly hailed as the band's most coherent statememt to date. Litmus returned to the road airing the new material on the festival circuit in Europe and Scandanavia, keyboard duties fulfilled by Mr Oliver Mayne. The departure of Anton (on his return to Stoke) in 2010 prompted not only a general re-focussing of minds but also a crash course in playing keyboards, as Marek, Martin and Simon laid the ground work for new album 'Slaughterbahn'. They emerged only to perform a handful of select gigs (with Matt Thompson returning to guest on synth), including a headline slot at Sonic Rock Solstice festival in Wales. 2011 sees the completion of 'Slaughterbahn'; a statement of intent both decisive and incisive, the familiar Litmus sound is rejuvenated with a new clarity and confidence. The Mellotrons and vintage audio generators are deployed with precision. While 1960s Detroit and 1970s Berlin are joyfully plundered for new inspiration the result remains unmistakably British and unmistakably NOW. With the addition of full time Keyboard/Synth wizard James Hodkinson and a return to the fusion of melodic songwriting and high energy psychedelic extravaganza, this looks set to evolve into the definitive Litmus line-up, unleashing a sonic assault more devastating than ever before. No longer a covert operation, Litmus are making a noise that demands to be heard. Drawing equally on early Pink Floyd and early Motorhead, but at the same time entirely modern, Litmus are redefining spacerock for the future.