Flowers is the third creditable instalment of Echo and The Bunnymen's second honeymoon period and finds the stylish, duopolistic musical nucleus of Ian McCulloch's vocal somnolence and the Eastern guitar mystique of Will Sergeant newly augmented by the work of bassist Alex Gleave, drummer Vinny Jamieson and keyboard player Ceri James. Subtle psychedelic touches of theremin, organ and backwards guitar pursue the colourisation of a few monochromic areas but, for the most part, Flowers is less the work of a new broom and more the affirmation of the Bunnymen's vintage vibe. Therefore, the opening "King of Kings" (think The Doors' "When The Music's Over") wouldn't sound out of sorts on Ocean Rain while the pronounced garage pop of "Make Me Shine" and "Life Goes On" both build on past endeavours with a newly insistent, radiant vitality. The album's centrepiece--the careworn, love-scarred lamentation of the title track--exudes hard-earned maturity. And maturity is beginning to suit Echo and The Bunnymen very well indeed. --Kevin Maidment