Exceptional "Hanley" audience recording. Very good sound indeed. My only complaint is Mr Spurr is his usual inaudibile self for the most part.

The first of four consecutive nights at the Carling Islington venue and by all accounts the most effective of the four. Reviews at the time varied between "I hated it" and "It was the best show I have ever seen" - my view is that its a damn good show and probably the best of the four in the run in terms of invention and variation.

"Stock Replacer" is developing nicely from the simple riff with Pete throwing in some clever variations and Keiron showing some great dynamics especially when the meister enters the proceedings.

I'm not sure what this version of the band are doing with "Over!Over!" but its subtly different and sounds like its been transformed as a result of such. Some evidence of on-stage mixing in the guitar area here. "Joint" is taken at a fair lick and is probably the least satisfying thing of the evening. I'm not sure it fits in this current set if I am honest. "Sparta" also sounds a little tired/overplayed and perhaps it needs a while on the subs bench to get its game together.

First outing for "Ponto" a new song built on a five note riff with some lovely silky guitar lines from Pete and minimal vocals from Mark. No doubt this will develop. An oddly sparse opening to "Mountain Energie" leads to an entertaining rant about tobacco bans and I think gas commercials. "My Door" at least at long last has some evidence of Dave Spurr's amp being turned a notch. A more guitar driven version of this number and a slight back-beat from Keiron gives it a different feel.

"Duped" has initial lead vocal problems and features a sinuous guitar line from Pete which gives it a slight grungy feel. This is very 197os tonight. "Strange Town" is a bit shouty and Mark has some microphone problems but Elena's guttural synth sounds are excellent - for some reason I am reminded of a constipated gorilla - and towards the end the song becomes transformed into something quite special.

"White Lightning" is without vocals for the first minute or so, is a tad strange and has probably emerged brashly from somewhere from between Neu2 and a night in an italian disco, when Mark comes in starts to sound a little like the original version, with Mark channeling Gene Vincent. Some odd sound variations and the strange mixture of guitar solo and pulsing disco synth repetition.

"What About Us?" is simply glorious with Greenways use of controlled guitar tone on the riff a real pleasure. Unless my ears decieve me I think Pete is using 7ths instead of major chords here which gives the tune a real blues edge. Quite an effective keyboard solo from Mark towards the end leads into a great pulsing extended coda with surf guitar etc.

It concludes with a relatively short "Blindness" (less than 8 minutes!) which is as usual intense and driven.

All in all not as bad as the detractors would have and frankly quite tight and well delivered in the great scheme of things.