Echo & the Bunnymen “The Killing Moon” 1984. 12″ single. The lead single from their fourth LP Ocean Rain and one of their best-charting, going to #9 in the UK. Gorgeously neo-psychedelic post-punk with an exotic sound inspired by Russian balalaika music. The 12″ single has two versions, the single version plus the “All Night Version” which is much longer and brilliant. I especially love the increased length of the track and the intensification of the cello solo. Also on this release is a hard-rocking live version of my all-time favorite Echo song “Do It Clean,” recorded on July 18th, 1983 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the final encore of their set. The vocals are soaring (with a Jim Morrison-esque meets James Brown breakdown at the bridge), the beat relentless, the guitar shredding and bending. Simply amazing. I wish they had played this version when we saw them play last year at the Pabst Theater. The entire Albert Hall concert can be seen here.