Van Morrison
Astral Weeks

Do you remember when you were kids, going swimming in the pool, and at the first dive you got shivers, only to get used to it after a while? Well, this is the impression I got when I first listened to "Astral Weeks" by Van Morrison. It may seem obvious to many to define this album as a true work of art, but in reality, when talking about this musical monument, it even seems reductive. It is a bittersweet arrow that lodges in our weak and sensitive human hearts.

But let's go in order: Van Morrison, coming off a very brief stint with Them, absolutely noteworthy, contemplated the possibility of ending his career as a musician. The producers at Bang Records encouraged him to resume what he intended to stop. Thus was born Van Morrison's debut, "Blowin' Your Mind", a very raw album that almost never showcased Van Morrison's expressive talents. Needless to say, our friend was very disappointed by this. He then decided to become a sort of "sweet conductor" of an orchestra, and, armed with his sweet and decisive acoustic guitar, he recorded what for many, including Lester Bangs, is considered the best album of all time...

The immense and inimitable quality of "Astral Weeks" is represented by its expressive freedom, very different from that of the Velvet Underground, who used their provocative nature to outline the notorious underbelly of New York. Van The Man was different, indeed, very different: his was an inspired music, free from any constraints, both textual and "compositional", it was something unique and at the same time accessible, something "human" in some ways, while in others something transcendental. In Astral Weeks, the subjectivity of singer-songwriting and spontaneous jazz improvisation merge perfectly and fluidly, expressed at monstrously high levels. He was free, but without the need to experiment in an "assiduous" and complex way like Frank Zappa or Captain Beefheart. He expressed the freedom of the soul in all its completeness. No one else could have been as spontaneous in "classic" singer-songwriting, probably not even Bob Dylan, with whom he shares this incredible poetic vein and an interest in British literature (in Van Morrison's case, James Joyce)

No need to dwell too much, if this marvel immediately offers us a sweet dish, "Astral Weeks", seven minutes of sound ecstasy dominated by Van's very romantic guitar and the marked presence of an indispensable and perfect orchestra, while the Irishman declares his desire for redemption. Right after the title track, there's a blow to the foot, "Besides You", with more dramatic and touching connotations, where Van Morrison's vocal performance reaches levels of unimaginable expressiveness. Concluding this very heart-wrenching interlude, the tears start flowing... it's time for "Sweet Thing". The first time I heard that unforgettable acoustic guitar sound, I burst into tears: unthinkable that a man could move me in just 30 seconds. Probably my favorite piece by Van Morrison, where the Irishman declares his never-denied love for life. After delighting me with a monstrous track, Van Morrison returns quickly to the fray, with "Cyprus Avenue", personification of the infinite desire of man. The track that certainly "calms the waters" is the most distinctly jazz piece on the album, which is "The Way Young Lovers Do", outlined by the balanced jazz of John Payne's saxophone. This great song takes on further meaning simply because I was listening to it at the exact moment Eden Hazard made Leicester win the championship (PURE BLISS). "Madame George", marked by a PERFECT bass as it progresses, and an almost unforgettable melancholic violin, which strongly underlines the confession, with Van Morrison enjoying himself like a child creating unique folk-jazz atmospheres and recreating the carefree sounds of his beloved Ireland. Another moment (the umpteenth) to be framed is "Ballerina", also the favorite track of the album for @[j&r], whom I wish to greet. An incredible track, where the vibraphone, bass, mandolin, and violin blend together into a single sweet ensemble... The last 3 minutes of "Slim Slow Slider" are nothing but a formality since with this moving track (the eighth in a row, damn what a phenomenon!) he just gently closes the curtain on this immense 47-minute show.

The descriptions of the tracks will probably have been trivial, but when it comes to Van Morrison, it becomes practically impossible to actually describe such a monument. It's like trying to describe the sensation of love at first sight to someone who hasn't experienced it yet.

Now, since I have nothing else to do tonight and since I'm bored, I'll dive back in and feel that thrill of immersion. Good evening to everyone...