Van Morrison Keep It Simple

Posted by: Richard S on 21 April 2008

His new album arrived on my doorstep this morning from HMV Guernsey.

Its a double LP with bonus live material recorded at the Blackpool Opera House which are not included on the CD.

This is the best thing he's done for years and years. Back to the heights achieved on Poetic Champions Compose and Enlightenment.

Its superbly produced and just flows out of the system. I think it will make an excellent demo disc for the future.

In the meantime just enjoy it; a record this good needs to be proclaimed from the rooftops as loudly as possible.


Regards
Richard S
Posted on: 21 April 2008 by Right Wing
Yes. I agree 100%.

His previous album went straight into the bin. This one however is great.


P
Posted on: 21 April 2008 by rupert bear
quote:
Originally posted by Richard S:
Back to the heights achieved on Poetic Champions Compose and Enlightenment.


... but presumably not the heights he attained on Astral Weeks and Moondance.
Posted on: 21 April 2008 by Blueknowz
Live show on BBC4 this Friday
Posted on: 21 April 2008 by count.d
My Keep It Simple vinyl also came this morning from HMV after a long wait. HMV are now cheap, but slow.

Haven't played it yet, as I'm stuck in front of this boring computer.
Posted on: 21 April 2008 by Richard S
quote:
Originally posted by rupert bear:
quote:
Originally posted by Richard S:
Back to the heights achieved on Poetic Champions Compose and Enlightenment.


... but presumably not the heights he attained on Astral Weeks and Moondance.


Well, no, the heights last achieved then.

I think Van is a fascinating character whose body of work stretches back a long way. For most of that time the standard is good, but since the last album that was anywhere decent was Enlightenment its been a long wait to hear him do something that compares with previous peaks.

Count d is bang on the money about HMV online; I'm not sure I'll bother ordering from them again.
Posted on: 22 April 2008 by gone
"Keep it Simple" gets him back to form after the execrable "Pay the Devil". I had almost lost the faith. Soul is just brilliant, and I'm looking forward to Friday's show - the standard of that series has been excellent so far
John
Posted on: 22 April 2008 by Lontano
I played this disc last night and was quite impressed. It will certainly get some more airplay and as the title says, it is simple but effective.

Even the wife turned the TV off to come and have a listen, so it can't be bad.
Posted on: 22 April 2008 by count.d
I played it yesterday and thought it was pretty good. The fourth side, with the three live tracks, sounds wonderful and is in a different league to the studio recording.
Posted on: 23 April 2008 by tonym
quote:
Originally posted by Nero:
...after the execrable "Pay the Devil".
John


So it wasn't just me!

Thanks guys - after reading these postings I've ordered the LP.

I confess to being a huge VM fan; a great and unique artist, crying to be heard and admired more that he is. Mind you, being a curmudgeonly old scroat hasn't exactly helped his popularity...

"Enlightenment" is my favourite Van LP. Much as I admire Astral Weeks, I find it a bit dated these days (although I still listen to it a fair old bit!)

Glad to learn the old boy's back on form!
Posted on: 23 April 2008 by von zipper
quote:
Originally posted by munch:
I have to agree with you on hmv they have got very slow over this last year,and are buggers for not telling you your order is out of stock until its been on order for two weeks or more.
Munch


I stopped using HMV for this very reason some time ago - the lure of free postage soon wained when stuff I was ordering from the States was turning up way before HMV (which seemed to not turn up at all as they never had stock - rubbish!!