Songs of Leonard Cohen

The work of Leonard Cohen has always attracted more than its share of covers, and for good reason — the combined imagery, complexity, and emotional power of his compositions remains the envy of the creative community, and represents a swift passage out of the ordinary. Coupled with exceptional talent, Cohen's material can reach unimaginable highs: Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah" takes pride of place at the top of our extended salute. "Bird on a Wire" goes three very different ways, in Next Steps.

It's a measure of the great man's talent that his work allows for such a variety of interpretations: contrast three versions of "Bird on a Wire" here: the Neville Brothers' ornate, soulful version — sung way up the register — shimmers like a mirage; Israeli vocalist Esther Ofarim swathes the song in clouds of strings, the perfect downy bed from which to launch her soaring vocal; and English folk-rockers Fairport Convention put the tune in whicker basket and trip with it through a vale of mellow twang. One of Cohen's former backing singer takes centre stage, in Deep Cuts.

Ever heard the verses of "So Long, Marianne" sung in Basque? Well, you're about to, courtesy of Jabier Muguruza, whose unorthodox phrasing lends the track warmth and intimacy. Avant-garde Spanish rocker Javier Colis puts his distinctive, husky stamp all over "El Carnicero" while Los Angeles-rooted Mexican-American singer-songwriter Perla Batalla — who once worked for Cohen as a backing singer, until he encouraged her to go solo — adds a delicacy and passion to "Suzanne".

Paying homage to Leonard Cohen is practically a rite of passage for any sharp-witted artist with a keen interest in the highest potential of pop, hence the thousand-plus covers his songbook has spawned, every one an implicit admission that the man inhabits a loftier sphere of creative talent than most. It's no surprise to find some of rock's brightest sparks among these Cohen aficionados, including Jarvis Cocker (whose wit and charm proves equal to "I Can't Forget"), Wainwright siblings Rufus and Martha, Joe Cocker ("First We Take Manhattan") and Nick Cave ("I'm Your Man"). One master, many disciples.