Kevin Bryan delivers his verdict on some of this week's CD releases.

Sam Lewis,"Solo" (Loversity Records)- The latest offering from Nashville based singer-songwriter Sam Lewis was recorded live in the intimate surroundings of Southern Ground Studios in his adopted home city and finds this highly regarded performer operating in his natural element as he regales his highly receptive audience with a finely judged blend of freshly minted songs and choice extracts from his illustrious back catalogue. Sam's previous collections have prompted comparisons with roots rock luminaries such as the late great Townes Van Zandt, and it's also possible to detect ghostly echoes of the similarly deceased Jesse Winchester in his soulful vocal delivery as he serves up subtly memorable ditties such as "Virginia Avenue" and "3/4 Time" for your listening pleasure.

Chris Farlowe,"Lonesome Road"(Talking Elephant)- This splendid vehicle for the talents of veteran vocalist Chris Farlowe was captured for posterity at Salisbury Arts Centre in September 1995, with his regular collaborators the Norman Beaker Band supplying the solid instrumental backdrop for a set which features the great man's inimitable versions of songs closely associated with the likes of Tony Joe White, Lonnie Mack and Bob Dylan, including the latter's minor 1971 hit,"Watching The River Flow." The proceedings draw to a close with Farlowe's stripped down revamp of his originally string laden 1966 chart topper,"Out of Time," which was one of a string of Rolling Stones covers that he recorded for their then manager Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate label half a century or so ago.

Seth Lakeman,"A Pilgrim's Tale" (BMG)-Multi-award winning folkie Seth Lakeman's latest recording project presents a vivid "warts and all" portrait of the events surrounding the Pilgrim Faithers' momentous journey to the New World , and the trials and tribulations which beset them and the unfortunate Native Americans who encountered them when their ship The Mayflower finally arrived there in 1620 .Actor Paul McGann supplies the between songs narration for a stirring narrative which also draws on contributions from folk luminaries such as Benji Kirkpatrick and Seth's gifted sister in law Cara Dilion. Lakeman himself goes about his business with the emotional intensity and innate sense of drama which has become his artistic trademark over the years. Splendid stuff.