Nothing, apparently, lasts forever. But in light of the youthful quality of Live in Liverpool, it's entirely fitting to see the original super furry Merseysiders ignoring their own maxim. Echo and the Bunnymen's first ever official "in concert" offering, Live in Liverpool captures the Bunnymen performing at Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts in August 2001. Frankly, though, the date is a matter of utter horological insignificance, for despite encroaching superannuation, depleted membership (only gloom crooner Ian McCulloch and sitar-flavoured guitarist Will Sergeant remain from the old days) and increased competition from garment-filching younger bucks, Echo and the Bunnymen are still cutting the live mustard. For even the casually committed, Live in Liverpool is a tasty alternative to any of the preceding Best Of compilations, not only offering those cornerstone moments of monochromic sleepy-eyed psychedelia ("Zimbo") and nautically-inspired nonsense ("Seven Seas") but such items of gloriously dark pop as "Rescue", "Lips Like Sugar" and the stealthy, surf-guitar strewn, cloak-and-dagger drama of "Killing Moon". For oburate, floppy-eared Bunny fans, Live in Liverpool is nothing less than essential. --Kevin Maidment
