Van Morrison/ Remembering Now

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Van Morrison/ Remembering Now

Genre: Rock/ eclectic

Label: Exile Productions

Rating: *****

How does one describe the genius of a man who's been on the scene for 57 years, and yet sounds so inspired and kingly on his 47th studio album? Irish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Van Morrison may not be spoken of in the same vein as some of his  contemporaries, but talk of longevity and quality, and he's very much up there.

It may be argued that his latest album Remembering Now comes after a few insipid records containing cover versions or remakes of his own songs, not to talk of the controversy his statements on vaccination attracted during lockdown. But the heartening thing is he's back in form, writing 14 originals that carry the Van glory stamp from yesteryear. Okay, there's no point comparing it to Astral Weeks, Moondance and Veedon Fleece, three of the best records he created early in his career. But it's definitely in the vicinity, in fact almost there. And remember, he's 79 now.

The voice is still as rich and expressive as before, and the back-up vocalists are used charmingly. Van has produced the album himself. The choice of instruments is spectacular, moving from regular guitar, piano, drum and bass to Hammond organ, pedal steel guitar and saxophone played by an ensemble cast of musicians, producing a sound that flows seamlessly across genres. 

And those words! Imagine a line like "Left the blues behind, cause I was colourblind" on the song 'Colourblind'. Or his opening line of 'Haven't Lost My Sense Of Wonder', where he sings, "Haven't lost my sense of wonder, even though things don't seem to be working out; Haven't lost my sense of wonder, even though there's so much doubt". Symbolism, word-play, depth, feeling, you find all these traits in his meticulously-chosen words.

As one would guess, most songs are about positive nostalgia, hope, coming out of the darkness and finding peace of mind. Van begins with 'Down To Joy', first used in the 2021 Kenneth Branagh film Belfast. It's about waking up to a feeling of joy, and the eclectic orchestration suits the song perfectly.

On 'If It Wasn't For Ray', Van pays tribute to the legendary Ray Charles, even admitting, "If it wasnt for Ray, wouldn't be what I am today". There's a masterpiece in 'Love Lover Beloved', where he sings, "Passion brings self-compassion, surrender starts with yourself, when surrendering forms our thoughts and actions, we walk in harmony and peace".

'Back To Writing Love Songs' and 'The Only Love I Never Need Is Yours' reflect the romantic side of Van's songwriting, whereas 'When The Rains Came' and 'Memories & Visions' are seeped in nostalgia.

The album ends with three gems. There's 'Colourblind', mentioned in this review before. The title track is autobiographical in nature, as he chants, "This is who I am, remembering now" repeatedly. Some stunning choruses, Hammond organ, and beautifully-constructed string and brass arrangements, take the song into another zone.

Finally there's the nine-minute piece 'Stretching Out'. Quite simply, it's a song that makes you wonder how anyone could compose anything like that at such an age. With its cinematic style and slow build-up, it's simply fascinating. And the way he repeats words like "Your eyes". "Surprise", "On The Coastline" and "Shady Lane" is so typical of his signature style.

Those relatively new to Van may take a while to grasp his style, which is actually very distinct. You can recognise a Van tune sitting in another continent. And like his earlier albums, this one grows on repeated listening. In the same tune he sings "Your eyes, your eyes, your eyes" in the final song, we can sing back to him, "Your voice, your voice, your voice".