A return to form was unlikely for Van Morrison. He seemed to have lost his way on those cover albums, though even that was a closer walk on the path of normality than his nutcase period. From fuming at a lockdown that saved lives to then retreating into the comforts of music he listened to, butchering song after song on a trilogy of forgettable covers albums, Morrison is very much a diluted form of Bob Dylan. A speedrun of sorts, to see how quickly Morrison could lose faith and return to favour, five years appears to be the time to beat. His rehabilitation into a common-sense world is achieved with Remembering Now, a solid selection of songs which date as far back as an Academy Awards nod. He has not evolved beyond this desire for easy-listening folk rock, but at least it is a literal, easy listen now.
We do not have to wade through the waters of his mind, just his soul. That much is an improvement. Still some valleys to trudge through before heading to those peaks, of which there are a handful on Remembering Now. The title track, and opening song Down to Joy, speaks to the quality Morrison can still share. Haven’t Lost My Sense of Wonder is the first bright spark outside of the singles released before Remembering Now. Morrison is a man who has occasionally drifted into sentimentality for a hometown he was never sure he would return to – as heard on the exceptional Saint Dominic’s Preview. But now, having been back and forth between the adopted home of the United States and his roots in Northern Ireland, he finds peace in both countries. Some of the songs featured on Remembering Now feel more like reminders that Morrison has calmed down, stopped grasping the out-of-reach theories. He is back to writing love songs, something he did in the abstract often enough.
Now he takes on the tone of a crooner, though, a man who is more interested in the slower flow and tempo of piano-heavy music. It feels a tinge ironic to hear Morrison sing of love and compassion, but here we are, and he does it with conviction. Love, Lover and Beloved is a neat track where the instrumental flow, the relaxed feel, are rather appealing. Morrison steers away from easy listening, he is always keen to challenge a listener, and does enough on Remembering Now to set himself apart from those covers of the past. There are some generous moments from Morrison here as he eases himself into the role of long-serving songwriter. Cutting Corners is a sweet piece. Those love songs to follow, though, struggle with the soppy sentimentality which begins drifting through the album. Peaks and valleys, as it always has been for Morrison when it comes to consistency.
For every delightful track like Once in a Lifetime Feelings and Stomping Grounds, there are the relatively tame explorations of love and life with The Only Love I Ever Need is Yours. Morrison is back in solid form, though that is no small feat given he lost the gift of good writing a long while before turning into a man railing against being sat at home during a global crisis. Remembering Now is as honest an effort as it gets for Morrison, a sincerity which flows through this album is quite the surprise. Those latter moments, songs like When The Rains Came, highlight his work not just as an incredible vocalist, but as an instrumentalist who still has an ear for the delicate sound, the touch of beauty which comes with reflections on love, present and past.
Discover more from Cult Following
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
