Record Reviews
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  | VAN MORRISON ~ ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE EXILE 044003369580 (Barcode: 044003369580) ~ IRELAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023
This is the 45th studio album by the legendary Northern Irish singer / songwriter Van MorrisonFind albums by this artist. The album presents nineteen tracks, all of which are Morrison’s take on Rock And Roll, Rhythm And Blues and Country songs, written by others, similar to his previous album dedicated to Skiffle. He is accompanied by a team of excellent instrumentalists, who played on his latest recordings, which includes organist Richard DunnFind albums by this artist, pianist Stuart McIlroyFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dave KearyFind albums by this artist, bassist Pete HurleyFind albums by this artist, drummer Colin GriffinFind albums by this artist and a few other players and background vocalists.
Despite his age (78 years young) Morrison is in great condition, full of vigor and creative powers and his vocal abilities are absolutely unblemished. This is the second time he returns to the music that fascinated him in his early days, and he does so with obvious love and affection. His arrangements and in some cases expansions of the original material are all tasteful and faithful to the original style, and as such work out splendidly.
It is very difficult to find today an Artists, who is able to maintain a career for six decades, without losing any of its momentum, quality or good taste and Morrison surely deserves our appreciation for keeping the flame burning. His ability to cross genres at will, always remaining relevant, is absolutely precious.
Overall, this is another great album by a great Artists, who manages to remain relevant and creative as the time passes by. Morrison pushes aside all fads and fashions and remains true only to himself, doing what he does best, i.e. singing his heart out. Regardless if you like early Rock at all, this music is both entertaining and valuable, in complete contrast to everything happening around. Well done, indeed!
| Updated: 24/04/2024Posted: 24/04/2024 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | VAN MORRISON ~ KEEP ME SINGING EXILE 602557035742 (Barcode: 602557035742) ~ IRELAND ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016
It is absolutely wonderful to feel that some sanity is left in this world and this new (as of the time of writing) album by the iconic Northern Irish bard Van MorrisonFind albums by this artist proves that the good old values are still very much intact. The album, his 36th studio release, presents twelve new songs and one instrumental piece, eleven of which were written by Morrison, one which was co-written by him and one which is his interpretation of a beautiful classic song by Alfred BraggsFind albums by this artist. Morrison is accompanied by a set of superb musicians, including Irish pianist Fiachra TrenchFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the string arrangements which appear on some songs, multi-instrumentalist Paul MoranFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dave KearyFind albums by this artist, bassist Paul MooreFind albums by this artist and others.
The music is everything one might expect from Morrison: a set of sublime songs, delivered with great sensitivity and taste, with Morrison still being in top form and singing as if the clock did not tick for him at all. There is the same deep melancholy, echoes of Blues and Celtic roots, gentle Jazzy accompaniment, in short the same golden formula that Morrison uses for years and which still delivers the goods. In many ways this album is a nostalgic trip to the early era of his career, as stylistically it is very much a closing of a circle.
Morrison has always been completely free of the mannerisms that destroyed so many musicians over time. He never tried to prove anything and was always himself, not trying to be anybody else. With fads and fashions swapping the entertainment world, Morrison was always an observer rather than a player, distancing himself by choice for the phony imagery surrounding the scene.
It is somewhat sad to think that saying someone did not change almost at all in the last fifty years it the biggest compliment one can pay that person. Listing to this album brings fond memories of "Astral WeeksFind albums with this title", "MoondanceFind albums with this title" and "His Band And The Street ChoirFind albums with this title", with these iconic albums sharing many of the same elements with this album. Fame and success, all well deserved, did not, thank God, take a heavy toll on Morrison, and we, the fans, have all the reasons to feel ecstatically happy about it.
If you are a member of the Generation Z, it is probably way too late for you to save your sanity, but this album might just about do it…We the Baby Boomers were simply born into it, which makes thing really easy. Life ain´t fair…
| Updated: 11/11/2023Posted: 15/10/2016 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | VAN MORRISON ~ LATEST RECORD PROJECT VOLUME 1 EXILE 4050538667905 (Barcode: 4050538667905) ~ IRELAND ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic paralyzed the music world almost completely for months on end, surely as far as live performances are concerned, but for many artists the period of seclusion and distancing was an opportunity for more intensive recording activity than ever before. Northern Irish iconic singer / songwriter Van MorrisonFind albums by this artist managed during the pandemic to record a whole 2CD album, his 42nd studio release, with no less than twenty-eight new songs, all written (two co-written and one traditional) by him, a truly remarkable achievement for a 75 years old veteran.
Morrison is surrounded by a fabulous team of instrumentalists, which includes organist Richard DunnFind albums by this artist, pianist Stuart McIlroyFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dave KearyFind albums by this artist, bassist Pete HurleyFind albums by this artist, drummer Colin GriffinFind albums by this artist and a few other players and background vocalist. Guitarist Jim MullenFind albums by this artist guests on a couple of songs and vocalists Chris FarloweFind albums by this artist and P.J. ProbyFind albums by this artist guests on one song each.
The music is kept in a retro atmosphere, emphasized by the organ centered instrumental arrangements, all kept in the vein of a classic early Morrison, combining Blues, Country, Soul and Rhythm And Blues, but always completely filled with Morrison’s idiosyncrasy. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it is the name of the game here, and Morrison was always a Master of the game.
Since personally I could never get enough of Morrison’s brilliant songwriting and superb delivery, this album surely is not going to break the pattern. I had a blast listening to these songs, and although there were no surprises within, we all had enough surprises in our lives lately, so Van, please don’t you ever change!
God bless for being out there and for keeping the music same!
| Updated: 11/11/2023Posted: 02/06/2021 | CD 2 Digibook Recommend To A Friend |
  | VAN MORRISON ~ LIVE AT ORANGEFIELD: BE JUST AND FEAR NOT ORANGEFIELD 5061030860472 (Barcode: 5061030860472) ~ IRELAND ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2014 Released: 2024
This is an archival live album by legendary Northern Irish singer / songwriter Van MorrisonFind albums by this artist, recorded in 2014 during his performance at his alma mater Orangefield Secondary School in Belfast, Northern Ireland, just before it was about to close its doors, fifty-five years after he performed there for the first time in 1959. He is accompanied by a splendid group of musicians, which includes keyboardist Paul MoranFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dave KearyFind albums by this artist, bassist Paul MooreFind albums by this artist, drummer Bobby RuggieroFind albums by this artist, a brass section comprising of saxophonist Chris WhiteFind albums by this artist and trombonist Alistair WhiteFind albums by this artist and backing singers. The album presents sixteen tracks, all but two original songs by Morrison. The sound quality of the live recording is brilliant and Morrison and his band are in absolute top form.
Morrison performs some of his favorite songs he wrote over the years, and considering the quality and quantity of the material he managed to accumulate, it is no wonder that the music is absolutely delightful and moving, as obviously the concert could be seen as a retrospective journey, which touches all his admirers, even if these songs were already performed many times. He is simply unbeatable as far as writing great songs and singing them, which go directly to the heart.
Overall, this is an obvious must have for all Morrison fans the world over, especially since this album offers a wonderful flow and festive atmosphere, which can be felt for the entire duration. If you love Morrison, there is no need to think twice as it does not get any better. This album was released on a new record label owned by Morrison, called OrangefieldFind albums on this label Records, which is not widely distributed and can be a bit more difficult to find, so buying directly from the label seems to be the best option. Enjoy!
| Updated: 08/02/2025Posted: 08/02/2025 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | VAN MORRISON ~ MOVING ON SKIFFLE EXILE 602448191410 (Barcode: 602448191410) ~ IRELAND ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2022 - 2023 Released: 2023
This is the 44th studio album by the legendary Northern Irish singer / songwriter Van MorrisonFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents 23 tracks, all of which are Morrison’s take on Skiffle songs, either traditional or written by others. He is accompanied by a team of excellent instrumentalists, who played on his latest recordings, which includes organist Richard DunnFind albums by this artist, pianist Stuart McIlroyFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dave KearyFind albums by this artist, bassist Pete HurleyFind albums by this artist, drummer Colin GriffinFind albums by this artist and a few other players and background vocalists.
Despite his age (77 years young) Morrison is in great condition, full of vigor and creative powers and his vocal abilities are absolutely unblemished. This is the second time he returns to the music that fascinated him in his early days, and he does so with obvious love and affection. His arrangements and in some cases expansions of the original material are all tasteful and faithful to the original style, and as such work out splendidly.
It is very difficult to find today an Artists, who is able to maintain a career for six decades, without losing any of its momentum, quality or good taste and Morrison surely deserves our appreciation for keeping the flame burning. His ability to cross genres at will, always remaining relevant, is absolutely precious.
Overall, this is another great album by a great Artists, who manages to remain relevant and creative as the time passes by. Morrison pushes aside all fads and fashions and remains true only to himself, doing what he does best, i.e. singing his heart out. Regardless if you like early Rock / Skiffle at all, this music is both entertaining and valuable, in complete contrast to everything happening around. Well done, indeed!
| Updated: 18/05/2023Posted: 18/05/2023 | CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
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