Five for the proggers....

The Enid - 'Something Wicked This Way Comes'(1982)

The fifth studio album from The Enid, and first to feature vocals. A remarkable little gem that still manages to maintain the huge pseudo-classical pomp of their earlier albums whilst introducing a new slightly more commercial and almost new wave edge to the bands sound. Highlights include the dark and moody And Then There Were None, the medieval sounding Jessica and the epic title track which features a Stephen Stewart solo to die for.

Greenslade - 'Time and Tide' (1975)

The fourth and final Greenslade album before the band called it quits in early 1976. This is a real gem. The goodies start with the Patrick Woodroffe cover art and continue into the tunes beyond. Look out for the bitter and biting attack on music journalists that is Newsworth, the triple whammy opening to side two in the form of The Flattery Stakes, Waltz For a Fallen Idol and The Ass's Ears and the gloriously trippy Tides.

Room - 'Pre-Flight' (1970)

Room had a very brief career, formed in 1968, won the NME's unsigned band of the year award in 1969, released their only album in 1970 and split soon after. Pre-Flight may be a hard one to track down, but its worth it for its quirky blend of King Crimson and early Fairport Convention influences and the albums epic title track.

Pallas - 'Arrive Alive' (1981)

Everyone has to start somewhere and for Aberdeen prog gods Pallas, it was here. Recorded live in Scotland in April 1981 this album is a bit on the raw side, but shows the talent that was to flower over the next 30 or so year. This one had a couple of cassette issues with a slightly different track listing before the LP version saw the light of day. Its a damn fine record over all but highlights have to be the blood soaked epic that is The Ripper and classic cut Crown Of Thorns

Variant - 'Beyond Jargon' (2005)

Another obscurity. To date this is the only album issued by Texan band Variant, a band who seam to have vanished off the face of the earth. However this one is well worth checking out, its rooted firmly in the fine tradition of prog rock past with hat tips to the likes of Genesis, Pink Floyd, Marillion and the rest, however it also starts to lay down the more aggressive in your face style the likes of Arena, Pallas and Pendragon are now peddling. Tracks to check include March To War, None So Blind and the epic Carrin' Carrion.