The Albion Band, Light Shining ****

The various incarnations of the Albion Band have added a wealth of fine material to the electric folk repertoire over the years and Ashley Hutchings and Dave Whetstone were responsible for penning the bulk of this excellent set, which first saw the light of day in 1982.

Newly recruited vocalist Cathy Lesurf also chipped in with the atmospheric  The Green Mist, and Hutchings' love of historical narrative inspired impressive tracks such as  Wolfe and Swift Nick, the latter exploring some of the myths and legends which sprang up around  the life of notorious 17th century highwayman William Nevison.

Out now (Sharrow SDA 1009: £11.50)

Martin Simpson, Vagrant Stanzas ****

Scunthorpe-born Martin Simpson is widely acknowledged as one of the world's finest acoustic and slide guitarists, and the veteran folk performer has chosen to mark his 60th birthday with the release of what is arguably his most intimate and compelling album to date.

The solo and unadorned  Vagrant Stanzas draws on material from both sides of the Atlantic, including Leonard Cohen's Stranger Song and Leon Rosselson's Palaces of Gold, relying  mainly on first or second takes  in an attempt to evoke  the atmosphere of idyllic  evenings spent swapping songs across the kitchen table.

Released on July 29th (Topic TSCD 589: £10.56)

Va pensiero, sull'ali dorate-Verdi's life told by Thomas Hampson ****

This attractive 2001 film by Felix Breisach explores the career  of Giuseppe Verdi who rose from his humble origins in  the village of Le Roncole  to find fame and fortune as  Italy's national composer and  one of the richest men in the country.

The DVD is presented by operatic baritone Thomas Hampson, who guides viewers around a string of picturesque locations inextricably linked with Verdi's life as well as  lip-synching his way through  some choice extracts from the great man's operas  I due Foscari, Il Trovatore, Macbeth, and La Traviata.

Out now (Euroarts 2051048: £13.00)

David Lynch, The Big Dream ****

The creative driving force behind  classic cult films such as Eraserhead and Mulholland Drive has now brought  his unique world  view to bear on the musical sphere, and the results are every bit  as surreal and  inventive as the veteran director's  cinematic exploits.

Lynch  describes the curiously elemental content of the follow up to his critically acclaimed 2011 album, Crazy Clown Time as modern blues,  and  his reverb drenched guitar and electronically doctored vocals lend an otherwordly  quality to the dreamlike  Cold Wind Blowin' and Are You Sure and  a stunning re-invention of Dylan's The Ballad of Hollis Brown.

Released on July 15th (Sunday Best Recordings: £9.95)

Colosseum, Those Who Are About To Die Salute You ***

The  progressive jazz rockers' compelling  debut set, Those Who Are About To Die.., was released by  Fontana Records in 1969 and provided an intense vehicle for the  talents of top notch performers such as drummer Jon Hiseman, organist Dave Greenslade and saxist Dick Heckstall-Smith.

The original album has now been fleshed out a little with the inclusion of six bonus tracks culled from several BBC radio sessions of a similar vintage, and although Colosseum's innovative sound may have acquired  much more polish and control as the years wore on their  early creative outpourings certainly  repay closer investigation too.

Out now (Talking Elephant TECD 222 : £11.50)