Kula Shaker, Albert Hall, Manchester

“WE are not going back in time,” declared

Crispian Mills as he took to the stage in the

Albert Hall not looking a day older than he did two decades ago.

“We’re bringing the past into the here and now.”

And Kula Shaker did just that as they kicked off with a cover of The Beatles’ St Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – a nod to one of their many influences.

Staying true to their word they then proceeded to play, in full, the album that made them a surprise hit back in 1996 – with a few extras thrown in for good measure – to mark its 20th birthday.

Listening as an, ahem, ‘adult’, it is impressive just how ‘K’ has stood the test of time – with not a filler in sight.

From the rockier Knight on the Town and Hey Dude to the Indian-influenced Govinda and Tattva, which made them stand out next to so many Brit pop bands of the 90s, the band fed the hungry audience exactly what they wanted.

Crispian’s understated way of bantering with the crowd was relaxed and honest, and his cheeky jokes about playing an LP record of K all the way through raised a ripple of laughs across the stunning venue.

For those not lucky enough to have been around in the swinging 60s, Kula Shaker were perhaps the only band to come anywhere close to what music was like in that era – and it was as if the spirits of Hendrix, Deep Purple and The Grateful Dead were in the room with us.

After a stellar 90 minute set, including four encore songs and personal praise to Manchester fans, the entire audience gave a much-deserved standing ovation for a performance, and set list, that they are unlikely to witness ever again.

VICKIE SCULLARD