This week's soundtrack CDs reviewed

DANNY ELFMAN
Milk Decca*****

Danny Elfman's score for the new film about the murder of San Francisco's first openly gay mayor, skillfully manages to be at once elegiac and optimistic. In knowing homage to the film and to the dance music of Aaron Copland, Elfman boldly infuses American folk and jazz motifs with sombre tones and bright colours (lots of lush strings, warm horns, and a soaring boys' choir) and masterfully combines them with simple melodies and sinuous polyrhythms. With his two adrenalin-charged action scores for Wantedand Hellboy II, and his propulsive minimalist score for the documentary Standard Operating Procedure, Elfman completes one of his most creative years with a bold, powerful and original score. www.milkthemovie.comJOCELYN CLARKE

Download tracks: Main Titles, New Hope

VARIOUS
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist Atlantic****

Welcome to this year's sleeper indie movie hit soundtrack. Following last year's whimsical, wily and witty track listing for Juno, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlistcontinues threading relevant indie tunes in between the storyline: lovelorn Nick (Michael Cera) and hopeful Norah (Kat Dennings) get it together in Manhattan as they team up in search of a secret gig. Two aspects make this soundtrack work: the tunes are rarely in need of visual accompaniment, yet they fit in seamlessly; and they're mostly marvellous. From Chris Bell's Speed of Soundto Vampire Weekend's Ottoman, from The Submarines' Xaviato We Are Scientists' After Hours(and not forgetting Irish singer-songwriter Paul Tiernan's sparse, elegant How to Say Goodbye), this is indie-kid manna from heaven. (Currently available only on iTunes and 7Digital.). www.nickandnorah.com TONY-CLAYTON LEA

Download tracks:Chris Bell, Speed of Sound; Vampire Weekend, Ottoman; The Submarines, Xavia TONY CLAYTON-LEA