IF ever there was an example of not believing publicity material, the press release accompanying Echo & and The Bunnymen’s first album in five years is a true biscuit-snaffler.

“It is on a par with the Bunnymen’s greatest records,” it trills. Not quite. But, at times, Meteorites hints at a return to the soaring heights of two decades ago.

Opener and title track Meteorites rumbles promisingly before the album sags with four tracks of ho-hum fodder marred by an overkill of orchestration adding morass rather than depth. But then the album picks up - and how.

While the confident swagger of youth has morphed into the circumspection of middle age, there’s no diminution in the power of new single Lovers On The Run, Burn It Down and the highlight, Explosions.

Here, Ian McCulloch’s voice is at its most strident and vulnerable, while Will Sergeant’s guitar packs that Ottoman dervish-dancing swirl. Penultimate track Market Town and the last, New Horizons, would not sound too out of place on Crocodiles and Ocean Rain respectively. Still got it, Mac.