Live

What odds then on Luna Live being a classic, it being the concert recordings of a bunch of cult New York art rockers? Yet a wonderful record it truly is, a living, breathing testament to a band who have constantly operated on the fringes for five albums. Whereas their recorded works have been an off-the-wall mix of left of centre songwriting and obscure instrumentalism, the Luna live experience is a mix of left of centre songwriting and blatant rock guitar.

Stripped of the strings, mellotrons, brass and keyboards that have characterised their previous efforts, Luna's place in the New York rock lineage that began with the Velvet Underground becomes clear. Dean Wareham has one of those slightly weak, half singing half talking voice so beloved of the US indie set but his songs more than bolster proceedings. Given the added electric boost of Sean Eden's brilliant guitar, the likes of 'Friendly Advice', 'Chinatown' and '23 Minutes In Brussels' (which rhymes the Belgian capital with tussles, which is pretty much genius if you think about it), are turned into unlikely rock anthems.

Talking of which, their countryesque take on 'Sweet Child O'Mine' is sadly absent but they do revisit Wareham's esteemed past, transforming Galaxie 500's deathly hush '4th of July' into a freewheeling pop monster. An unlikely triumph, but one that could well see Luna deservedly move from the 'cult' bracket.