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VAN MORRISON Astral Weeks (1968) Rating (Out of 10): 9 Tracklisting: Astral Weeks/Beside You/Sweet Thing/Cyprus Avenue/The Way Young Lovers Do/Madame George/Ballerina/Slim Slow Slider It's hard not to get senitmental when reviewing Van Morrison's debut solo album 'Astral Weeks'. Being from Van's home town of Belfast myself, and growing up just around the corner from the house where Van himself spent his early childhood years, the music of Van Morrisson is something that I grew up with, something that is part of my history and heritage. Surprisingly enough, most people from East Belfast claim to dislike Van. I don't know whether it's the sort of 'we hate it when our friends become successful' type of sentiment or if it's because of Van's ardent refusal to conform to traditional standards of Irish Music. But whatever the reason, love him or hate him, you have to acknowledge his talent and success. 'Astral Weeks' places Van Morrisson very much in the Northern Irish singer songerwriter category, even through he doesn't necessarily adhere to traditional definitions of that genre. The album maps out Van Morrison's Belfast, his childhood, the streets where he grew up. It was always with some pride that I think about there being a song called 'Cypress Avenue' a street that I know well. Everyone has stories about Cypress Avenue, Hyndford Street,the landscapes that fill Van's songs...... and it is always with some pride that people talk about Van singing about 'their street', their neighbourhood. 'Astral Weeks' is a piece of art as well as wonderfully crafted allbum. Criticised by some reviewers as being 'slow', it is the slowness that is the sheer magic of the album. Slow, serene, and absolutely beautiful, 'Astral Weeks' is an atmospheric, accoustic album, full of beautiful ballads and jazzy accompiamnts. A very daring debut album, experiemental and avante guarde in place with it's long sprawling tracks, it is similar in places to Tim Buckley's 'Happy Sad'. There is something very tranquil about 'Astral Weeks', something relaxing and serere. Recorded in New York with a group of Jazz musician's it shows a softer side to Jazz and also to Van himself. 'Astral Weeks' is very different to anything else Morrison recorded before or since, and it was quite different from anything else done around at the time. It clearly shows Morrison as a songwriter ahead of his time and someone able to take risks, trying to please no-one but himself. So often this results is the audience being alientated, but Astral Weeks is a perfect example of how it can work. The beauty and sheer audacity of it comes across on every note, as does its serenity and beauty.
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