Dust Breeding is probably the most accomplished and impressive of the Big Finish range of original Doctor Who audio's so far. High praise given some of the company it is now keeping.

On 19th Century Earth, artist Edvard Munch hears a scream. But it is no ordinary scream. It begins to take over his mind, until he comes to the conclusion that the only way to rid himself of it is to paint what he heard. His painting becomes a masterpiece, which is revered centuries after his death.

On the planet Duchamp 331, the painting of the scream hangs in the gallery of a small group of artists. Why is it here, when the rest of the planet is little more than a fuel depot? And what are the 'mysterious circumstances' in which the Doctor tells Ace the painting is about to be destroyed?

Maybe Madam Salvadori and her guests aboard the pleasure cruiser Gallery have the answer. Maybe their mysterious benefactor, Mister Seta, holds the key to the mysteries of the Scream, Duchamp and the strange cargo stirring in the hold of the Gallery.

Author Mike Tucker and Director Gary Russell have produced for our listening pleasure a masterpiece of audio drama. The plot is not overly complex, the characters are very well drawn and the situation is believable, as is the conclusion.

Returning monsters for this drama are the Krill, previously used in the BBC novel Storm Harvest, written by Tucker and his sometime writing partner Robert Perry. But the Krill alone would be a rather boring foe for an audio story, being as they don't speak, they just destroy. So a controlling intelligence had to be found, a villain to oppose the Doctor and his friends. And they made an excellent choice.

Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred are of course on top form as the Doctor and Ace. It seems strange to realise that it is almost twelve years since they appeared on television in their roles.

The guest cast are also worthy of note. Caroline John gives a wonderful turn as Madam Salvadori, while Geoffrey Beevers is suitably sinister and menacing as Seta. Louise Faulkner returns as Bev Tarrant, last heard in The Genocide Machine. And Ian Ricketts as Guthrie threatens at times to steal the show.

As I said at the top, Dust Breeding is the best drama produced by Big Finish so far. I hope that they can make me change my mind in the near future.