As part Anthology Recording's Surf Archive series, we celebrate the soundtrack to Andrew Kidman's classic 1996 film Litmus, the reflective music in sharp contrast to pop-punk, metal and grunge surf soundtracks of this era, and surf rock in general.  By the early 90s, surfing was on an upswing in popularity as professional surfers became marketable athletes. The three-fin, high performance, thruster shortboard was the tool of choice, lending to a fast-paced slashing style and ultimately a more aggressive surf and destroy movement in board culture. Litmus, Andrew Kidman's first avant-garde surf film, served as a soulful reaction to the pop-punk progression that dominated the alternative mainstream. With the film's visceral and cerebral moodiness, folksy soundtrack, and meditative spirit, critics swooned over surf misfits like Wayne Lynch, Derek Hynd, Tom Curren, and Joel Fitzgerald. Despite the acclaim, the film was not much of a commercial success at the time. The aura of Litmus' soundtrack, however, has found its cultish corner in the surf world. Prior to filming Litmus, Kidman's band, The Val Dusty Experiment, recorded a total of thirty-five songs in one day. The outcome of the one-and-done sessions was a lo-fi, rustic, experimental rock n roll sound, adding a rough-around-the-edges ambiance to the surf scenes that span Ireland, Australia, California, and South Africa. Additional contributions from Yothu Yindi and The Screaming Orphans diversify the score. Litmus was a defining moment in surf filmmaking -- it sparked an open-minded retro-progressive movement as surfers formed a higher consciousness about the types of boards they were riding and why.  Kidman released his second film, Glass Love, ten years later. As with Litmus, the music came first; Kidman felt his songwriting was ready to take on a new life. Thanks in part to Litmus, experimentation in board design progressed as surfers became more contemplative, questioning if surfing was art or sport?

A1 The Val Dusty Experiment– Rain Written By – The Val Dusty Experiment

A2 Litmus OST– Wayne Lynch Quote Performer – Wayne Lynch

A3 Yothu Yindi– Gapu Arranged By – Gapanbulu Yunupingu

A4 Galaxie 500– Listen, The Snow Is Falling Written By – Yoko Ono

A5 Litmus OST– Derek Hynd Quote Performer – Derek Hynd

A6 The Val Dusty Experiment– Mo Walker Written By – The Val Dusty Experiment

A7 The Val Dusty Experiment– Cow Written By – The Val Dusty Experiment

A8 The Val Dusty Experiment– Time Written By – The Val Dusty Experiment

B1 The Screaming Orphans– Black Is The Colour Arranged By – The Screaming Orphans

B2 Litmus OST– Joel Fitzgerald Quote Performer – Joel Fitzgerald

B3 The Val Dusty Experiment– Green Hornet Written By – The Val Dusty Experiment

B4 Tom Curren– Fire Jam Written By – Tom Curren

B5 Rosie Sutherland– Elizabeth Written By – The Val Dusty Experiment

B6 Jon Frank– Dump Swimming Written By – The Val Dusty Experiment

B7 Litmus OST– Hawaiian Surf Forecast B8 Kevin Baker (4) And The Val Dusty Experiment– Riding The Wind Written By – Kevin Baker (4), The Val Dusty Experiment

Side C and D: Glass Love Soundtrack by Andrew Kidman.  If They Only Knew; Mamma You've Been On My Mind; Light Inside Of You; Moonshiner; Flowers In The Wind; Narrabeen; The Dice Already Thrown; Opus; Blood On Your Shadow

Australian surfer, photographer, filmmaker...musician: Andrew Kidman.