Review: Remembering Now by Van Morrison.

I am very grateful that we still have a local record shop in our area because they are becoming a thing of the past. So, on Friday I rushed over to Raves From The Grave in Frome to pick up my copy of Remembering Now. My first thought on holding the CD in my hand was, “What a boring cover”, no expense had been entered into with the sleeve design. Whoever designed the cover must have thought, “Hmm, Van Morrison, Autumn leaves, that will do”. I wouldn’t be surprised if it had been designed by AI. Anyway, as they say you shouldn’t judge a book by the cover, and that applies to music albums as well, because I hope I’m not being carried away here with enthusiasm after four listens, but I think this is possibly the most satisfying Van Morrison album since Hymns To The Silence 35 years ago. In a song on that album On Hyndford Street Van said,” It’s always being now, it’s always now”, and in Take Me Back Van sang of being in the eternal now, In the eternal moment. In subsequent years although Van made some excellent albums, I think he gradually lost his spiritual muse as time went by, especially during lockdown, a period that is best forgotten. He is spiritually reborn on this new album and remembering that NOW is the only time that exists. This new album is the work of someone who appears finally to be at peace with himself.

Crawford Bell.

The opening track Down To Joy will be quite familiar to most Van fans by now as it featured in the 2021 Kenneth Branagh film Belfast. As on most tracks it features Van’s regular musicians Richard Dunn, Stuart McIlroy, Dave Keary, Pete Hurley and Colin Griffin. I especially like the backing vocals of the late Crawford Bell with Dana Masters, and Kelly Smiley. The album is dedicated to the memory of Crawford Bell who sings on all but one of the songs. I loved the Crawford Bell singers when they performed on stage with Van, especially on such songs as I Can’t Stop Loving You by Ray Charles who just happens to be the subject of the next song If It Wasn’t For Ray. I think it is one of the lesser songs here. We all know what a huge influence Ray was on Van, but I don’t like the chugga chugga rhythm and find the lyrics a bit simplistic and cliched. A medley of verses from Ray’s songs might have been a better tribute. 

Haven’t Lost My Sense Of Wonder is much more uplifting. After being though the mill Van is now singing peace be still. The languid Hammond organ and piano playing of John McCullough are perfect on this pastoral song which would have fitted nicely on any 1980s Van album. For Love, Lover & Beloved Van put music to words he found in a book by Michael Beckwith founder of the Agape Church. I bet Rev Beckwith will be playing this every Sunday to his congregation. The string arrangements on this track and six others are by Fiachra Trench. Van has worked with Fiachra in the past on such great albums as Avalon Sunset and Poetic Champions Compose. 

Strings Maestro Fiachra Trench.

I think their welcome reunion adds a rich flavour to the album, and congratulations to the Fews Ensemble led by Joanne Quigley who play the strings. The radio friendly catchy Cutting Corners is one of three songs co-written with lyricist Don Black. I think that Van is a much greater lyricist than Don Black could ever hope to be, but I like this song with Van’s sax playing and Dave keary’s guitars. The violin playing of Seth Lakeman is also a welcome addition. A very cheerful sounding Van is Back To Writing Love Songs on the next track which is enlivened by Dave’s 60’s style guitar playing. The Only Love I Ever Need Is Yours is another Don Black collaboration. Fiachra’s strings and Van’s heartfelt vocals come into their own on this short but soulful ballad. I don’t like Once In A Lifetime Feelings all that much, mainly because of Don Black’s insipid lyrics which just don’t fit happily with Van in my opinion. Even Seth’s violin playing can’t improve this lesser track. Stomping Ground by contrast sounds just like the authentic, genuine, real, Van that we know and love. Van takes a walk down the mystic avenues of his old Belfast haunts accompanied by the lush strings, Hammond organ and piano. Van’s saxophone never sounded better. 

The Fews Ensemble.

The mystical mood is continued with Memories And Visions. Memories, Dreams & Reflections by Carl Jung came into my head while listening to this wonderful song. Van finds equilibrium while being in communion with the spirit of nature. Van’s voice combined with the organ, piano, acoustic guitar and sublime backing singers make this an outstanding song which you want to hear again and again (Listen to song below). When The Rains Came doesn’t quite reach the same heights for me but is still an excellent song. ‘I saw you standing’ is a phrase Van has used many times before, such as in When The Leaves Come Falling Down (which brings us back to the sleeve design), In The Garden, Ancient Of Days, and The Healing Has Begun. All songs from a golden era in Van’s career when he was in the presence of the Now, which he is remembering now. I can imagine that this song stretched out in live performance would be a spellbinding showstopper. 

Sadly, I feel that Colourblind breaks the spell cast by the previous three songs. It is ok, but misplaced here. Van is trying to inject some humour with clever word play. On a very optimistic album it is the only song with negative lyrics such as Van saying he is ‘browned off’. It is partially saved by some nice sax playing. If Colourblind hadn’t been placed here we would have had a clear run of five songs of Van at his soulful transcendental best because the title track Remembering Now is another song where Van finds he has gone full circle, back at square one and rediscovers the eternal now which is where he was at the start. To my ears the eerie Hammond organ playing is quite reminiscent of St James Infirmary. Stretching Out brings this sublime album to a magnificent close. This is a song that Van has been developing live in concert for many years when he has stretched out performances of In The Afternoon/Ancient Highway. It has always been a highlight of his shows and will continue to be, I am sure. 

When many critics have doubted him, just a few weeks short of his 80^th birthday Van is sitting pretty having pulled a magnificent spiritually uplifting life-enhancing album out of the hat. My opinion is that if three or four of the lesser songs had been left out, this work would be hailed as one of the best albums of Van’s whole distinguished career. Bravo!