I was little worried about reviewing this DVD. Having watched various old lags struggle to retain their dignity on Hit Me Baby One More Time over the last few weeks, I was appalled at the thought of the once mighty The Human League drowning in the quicksand of easy nostalgia. Touring the hits in order to pay the mortgage, going through the motions with a cynicism that would betray their history. The gig on the DVD was filmed on the last night of their headlining UK tour in 2003 at The Dome in Brighton.

The artwork of DVD did nothing to allay my fears. It lacks the bands usual visual flair, the cover to Dare is pure 80's pop art. The silhouetted crowd shot and fuzzy live photo looks like the office junior knocked it up in five minutes. With more than a little trepidation I placed the DVD in the machine and sat back to watch.

From the opening thumping drum machine of Hard Times, to the sing along finale of Sound Of The Crowd the band are on cracking form and my fears quickly dissolve. Against a basic stage set, white with three screens for projections, the three singers Philip Oakey, Susan Sulley and Joanne Catherall and the backing musicians deliver a storming show.

The songs sound fantastic live, the arrangements adding some modern sheen to the sound but the songs remaining true to there classic status. With material this strong there is no need to dress it up in new musical clothes. Louise is still as heartbreaking as unrequited love, Darkness all glacial synths, cool blue lighting and paranoia. The Lebanon's two note bassline, a personal favourite, rattles from the stage, its description of a war torn Middle East still relevant today. The hits stack up like a heavenly jukebox. Human, Mirror Man, Don't You Want Me. The band try out new material, One Man in My Heart and Love Me Madly and it doesn't kill the atmosphere, the crowd singing along with as much gusto to the new songs as the old hits. The three singers start in fine voice - Oakey's seems to have matured nicely with age. By the end they all seem to be straining a little but it doesn't distract from the feel good vibe in the slightest.

The extras are cool. A 20-minute tour film, that places you in the heart of stage for a couple of performances. The crowd reaction to Don't You Want Me is amazing and you can understand why the band carry on when the gigs are so energised. It also includes a bizarre and funny mimed backstage rehearsal that leaves the band in stitches.

In addition to the tour film you get two sets of interviews. The first one is with the three core members of the band and the second is with Philip on his own. The band are dry, funny and revealing. Its surprising to hear that Virgin wanted to smoother the classic pop of Dare in guitars. The band held out, no guitars, and the album went onto sell 5 million copies Philip recalls how he recruited Susan and Joanne from a disco in Sheffield after the main songwriter in the band had quit to form Heaven 17. It's like Liam sacking Noel and hooking up with two waitresses from Pizza Express, then getting the Neptunes to produce the LP and breaking America.

On this evidence the The Human League are miles away from the desperation that fuels acts to climb abroad the reality TV gravy train. Still out there performing, still writing, and still trying to make the perfect pop record.

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