Rhino Vinilo y CD

Review: As the title suggests, this excellent collection gathers together tracks from three live sessions the Sisters of Mercy recorded at the BBC's Maida Vale studios between 1982 and '84, during the formative years of their lengthy career. The first session, recorded for John Peel in August 1982, contains a quartet of early live favourites, including their popular cover of the Stooges' '1969', while the second - a session for David 'Kid' Jenson' - boasts versions of tracks from the classic goth-rock EP The Reptile House (as well as a surprise Dolly Parton cover). Best of all though are the tracks from their 1984b Peel Session, which were laid to tape around the same time as the Leeds outfit was recording its debut album.