Kevin Bryan reviews some of this week's alternative CD releases.

Donovan, "Retrospective" (Union Square Music)- Glasgow born Donovan Leitch was Britain's most popular acoustic troubadour during his creative heyday in the middle and late sixties, capturing the hearts of millions with winsome ditties such as "Jennifer Juniper, " "Colours" and "Catch The Wind." His career sadly lost much of its early impetus as the years wore on but Donovan has bequeathed a fine body of work to posterity nonetheless, and the contents of this excellent 2 CD set were chosen by the great man himself, blending his much loved hit singles with a fine selection of album tracks led by "Sunny Goodge Street," "Superlungs (My Super Girl)" and the iconic "Season of the Witch."

"No More Heroes" (Union Square Music)- This vibrant celebration of the delights of punk and new wave rock is certainly several cuts above the average in terms of musical content, drawing on memorable contributions from the likes of The Stranglers, The Undertones, Ramones and The Only Ones to name but a few. The 3 CD set is well nigh faultless as an exercise in cultural nostalgia, and should be an essential purchase for anyone who was unfortunate enough to miss out on this unique listening experience the first time around.

Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting and Nancy Kerr, "Murmurs" (Topic Records)- Martin Simpson has been one of the leading lights of the British folk and roots scene since his richly rewarding stint with June Tabor in the seventies, and "Murmurs" finds him working in close collaboration with squeezebox supremo Andy Cutting and singer and fiddler Nancy Kerr in what was obviously a musical marriage made in heaven. The stellar trio display the natural empathy which so obviously exists between them as they tackle a beguiling blend of traditional and self-penned material , including Martin's evocative "Dark Swift and Bright Swallow" and timeless ditties such as "Fair Rosamund" and the epic "Plains of Waterloo."

Malcolm Holcombe, "The RCA Sessions" (Singular Recordings)- This impressive CD / DVD package traces the highlights of Malcolm Holcombe's career to date, showcasing recently re-recorded versions of tracks from each of the ten albums that this criminally underrated country balladeer has released during the past two decades. The decision to revisit these splendid creations live in RCA's Nashville Studios gives them a freshness and spontaneity which if anything improves on the much loved originals, with "To Drink The Rain," "Mouth Harp Man" and "Who Carried You" emerging as the best of a ruggedly beautiful bunch.