Various Artists: Brokeback Mountain Soundtrack

Herald rating: ***

Not quite sure if this is what Dylan had in mind when he wrote He Was a Friend Of Mine but Willie Nelson's lovely version here atones for his sin of appearing in Dukes Of Hazzard.

The rest of this proves an elegantly rustic and romantic collection as it drifts from producer Gustavo Santaolalla's Ry Cooder-like instrumentals and occasional bluegrass outbursts through new songs (at best on Emmylou Harris' sweetly hushed A Love That Will Never Grow Old), and redone old songs (Rufus Wainwright and Teddy Thompson's duet on King Of Road).

An evocative album that's equal parts torch'n'twang.

Label: Verve