They?re based in the UK, but there?s really no telling where planet-hopping space rockers Litmus might end up in or out of this feebly-armed galaxy by the end of their third album, Aurora, and where they might take you likewise. Their second album on Rise Above Records (2004?s You are Here came out on aptly-named Space Records), Aurora follows the mellotronned spirit of 2007?s Planetfall, but delves even further into an unmined quarry of retro prog and Hawkwindy sonicspheres.

?Beyond the Sun,? ?Miles Away,? ?Stars? and album highlight ?Kings of Infinite Space? let you know Litmus are interested in distance and journey, and their music follows suit, with delicately composed — but heavy — progressions of technically complex riffs and rhythms. The multiple vocals of drummer Marek, guitarist Fiddler and bassist Martin work in tandem to affect a ?70s-style harmonized patchwork, enhanced on record by liberal reverb and backed by the already noted mellotron and other psychedelic swirlings of resident noisemaker Anton and keyboardist Oli. With these two members focused entirely on ambience around the traditional power trio, Litmus bravely rock their way into a difficultly navigated asteroid field on ?In the Burning Light? while floating through the outer reaches of anti-gravity with ?Eos? only minutes later, allowing for twists sound-wise for which other bands simply aren?t equipped.

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