Words: Malcolm Dome

Hawkwind have been an enduring presence on the space rock scene for so long it’s easy to take them for granted. So it takes releases like Parallel Universe A Liberty/U.A. Years Anthology 1970-1974 (EMI) to remind you of their greatness. The title says it all, as this is a three-CD collection of their work during that era, and includes 12 previously unreleased tracks. But the whole feel is of a pioneering band making tremendously exciting and timeless music.

Europe are on a live kick with two essential CD/DVD packages this week Live Look At Eden (earMUSIC) is a 140-page book of photos from the Swedes’ last major tour, which comes with a CD of live material recorded in four different locations, plus a DVD shot at the iTunes Festival last year. Everything about it is quality and style, showing the band in the best possible light. Equally as impressive is slightly less lavish Live At Shepherd’s Bush, London (earMUSIC). This was filmed and recorded at the Empire earlier this year. Again proving Europe are still excellent stage performers.

Henry Parker is an 18-year-old guitar virtuoso. On Fire Burns My Soul Parker shows that he actually can play up a storm, as well as write tunes with a blues-rock swing and just a touch of psychedelia. Find out more at www.henryparkermusic.com

Warren Dean made his money by busking across the country. Now he’s sunk some of that cash into the album Who Is Warren Dean?. The answer is a refreshing, unsullied singer/songwriter who owes something to Bob Dylan, Nick Drake and John Martyn, but also has his own ebullient timbre. Find out more at www.warrendean.net

Jointpop are from Trinidad & Tobago – hardly a hive of rock ‘n’ roll activity, right? But on The Longest Kiss Goodnight (Anarchy On The Ace), they prove to have an individual swing. There’s a hint of punk, some alt. rock tendencies and a flow of pop-rock vibrancy. It’s The Wildhearts with a West Indian passion.

Norwegian black metallers Khold have their 2001 debut Masterpiss Of Pain (Peaceville) reissued. It’s a storm cloud of ominous and dense tirades, and remains their best album to date.

Californians Scarred bring to mind a cross between Solitude Aeturnus and Barren Cross on the pwoer metal themed Haunting Memories. They do this sort of thing with considerable style on the four tracks, which are laced more with an 80s sensibility than anything else. Nothing wrong with that approach when does as convincingly as the foursome do it. Find out more atwww.myspace.com/scarredmetal

Finally, Welsh band Kids In Glass Houses provide something of a shock with In Gold Blood (Roadrunner). If they’ve always appeared a little too emo in the past, now they’ve moved into an area that sounds more like early Manic Street Preachers. There’s definitely a sense here that the band are coming into their own. Raw, powerful and productive, this album points towards an interesting future.

With its usual lavish wallet featuring Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson in classic pose, the issue looks at the relationship between prog rock and folk music, with brand new interviews with Ian Anderson, Renaissance, Roy Harper, Pentangle, Comus and Mostly Autumn. There’s a look at the life and times of John Martyn too.

Elsewhere there’s an exclusive round-table Progressive Nation interview with Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy, Opeth’s Mikael Akerfeldt and Bigelf’s Damon Fox discussing the state of prog music today, and interviews with Oceansize, Within Temptation, Katatonia, 3, The Devil’s Blood and a seasonal look at Xmas prog tunes.

All this, plus a free 12-track CD featuring the likes of Transatlantic, Nosound, 3, Within Temptation, Big Big Train, Mostly Autumn and many more.

You’ll find all your progressive desires catered for in Classic Rock Presents Prog issue 5, on sale from tomorrow.

Ian Anderson (plus codpiece) on the wallet.

Prog Nation protagonists on the cover inside.

A cause of death is yet to be determined for the Scottish musician with only the following message being left on his official website: “With heavy heart and an unbearable sense of loss we must announce that John died this morning.”

The celebrated songwriter collaborated with Dave Gilmour, Eric Clapton and Phil Collins amongst others on his 20 studio albums and was awarded an OBE in the last new year’s honours list.