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

Phil Ochs, "Live Again!" (Retroworld)- The late Phil Ochs was in many ways the archetypal protest singer but mass public recognition sadly never really came his way, and after battling with his own personal demons for many years he eventually took his own life in 1976. This fine concert recording was captured for posterity in East Lansing, Michigan, three years before this tragic event, showcasing many of Phil's finest creations, including "Chord of Fame," "Changes" and the song which gave Joan Baez her first chart single in 1965, "There But For Fortune."

Steve Hackett, "Blues With A Feeling" (Esoteric Recordings)- Steve Hackett's name has become synonymous with a fairly cerebral brand of music-making over the years, but this 1994 offering found the former Genesis guitarist exploring the delights of the blues. The classically trained prog rocker returned to his musical roots with largely impressive results, handling vocals and blowing a robust harmonica on classic blues outings such as "Born in Chicago" before supplying an added bonus for diehard Hackett devotees in the shape of two newly recorded tracks, "On Cemetery Road" and "Patch of Blue."

Phantasm, "John Dowland : Lachrimae or Seven Tears" (Linn Records)- The contents of this splendid new Linn CD may seem fairly archaic to the contemporary listener, but John Dowland's intricately crafted creations actually gave birth to a new and innovative musical genre when they first saw the light of day some four centuries ago. The composer's collection of dance music for five bowed instruments and a lute is expertly recreated here by viol consort Phantasm and lutenist Elizabeth Kenny, revelling in the tuneful melancholy which became Dowland's artistic trademark.

The Eskies, "After The Sherry Went Round" (Parochial Dancehall Records)- The Eskies have been peddling their rabble-rousing fusion of folk, jazz and swamp blues around the concert halls of Britain and mainland Europe for the past four years or so, and the vibrant Irish band have now decided that the time ir right for them to unleash their debut album on an unsuspecting world. The task of transferring the energy of their irrepressible live act onto record could easily have defeated many a lesser outfit but The Eskies have risen to the challenge quite superbly, excelling themselves with energised show-stoppers such as "Down By The River" and "Wild, Wild Heart."