A Sweet, Sweet Thing (Astral Weeks - Van Morrison)

Name: sandrabarber

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Product:	Astral Weeks - Van Morrison
Date:	05/05/02 (57 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful, Innovative, Crafted

Disadvantages: Not everyone's taste

Astral Weeks (1968) was Van the Man's first 'real' album, and deserves its place in musical history for its accomplishment, innovation, fusion of styles, resonant storytelling lyrics and Van's unique, emotive voice.

Though sometimes referred to as a 'rock' album, Astral Weeks contains none of the grinding guitars and pounding drumbeats one would expect from such a description. Instead the songs are rich in strings, horns and acoustic guitars, creating a real melting-pot of jazz, blues, folk, soul and Celticism. And all topped off with Van's amazing emotive voice, which veers from angel to devil to throaty growl to sweet, melodic serenade.

Although all songs are complete works in themselves, to fully appreciate the album you need to listen to it in its entirety, following the lyrical progression whilst a picture of life and emotion for a young man in 60's Belfast unfolds.

The songs are full of pain, but also of wonder and love, and if at times the lyrics make no sense to you it doesn't matter - attach your own feelings and memories to them and make them your own. For me, this lyrical ambiguity is one of Van's great strengths - you can interpret each songs differently each time you listen.

Because each song is so finely crafted it's hard to pick the 'best' songs, so I'll just have to with my gut-reaction favourites.

1. 'Sweet Thing' - A young man in love, dreaming of meeting his lover and being her champion, feasting on the pleasures of nature. Inspiration seems to have been taken from medieval days and theories of courtly love, which are mixed with contemporary language and values and Van's recurring vision of eternal youth through love. Van sings passionately throughout, and with the lights out you could be there with him walking and talking in that 'garden all wet with rain'.

2. 'Cyprus Avenue' - A real avenue in Belfast whe
re the wealthy then lived. Great bass, violin and woodwind accompany the singer who stands and watches the mansion on the hill with beating heart and inability to speak to the lady of his dreams who wears 'rainbow ribbons in her hair'. As the track progresses the intensity of violin and voice increase and combine, before lulling gently away to a fade out finish.

3. 'The Way Young Lovers Do' - Fast and furious violin and bass fest over which Van sings inimitably, mirroring the sublime whirlwind of being young and in love. Horns join in as emotions and vocal range rises, moving through one of Van's famous 'doo doo doo' type incantations and culminating in a passionate flourish.

The other 5 songs are equally beautiful and inspired, dealing with timeless themes of love, childhood, beauty, spirituality and, above all, feeling.

Whenever music critics are asked to compile a list of their top albums ever, this one will always crop up. It's a seminal and hugely innovative work that had a huge influence on singers, writers and producers throughout the world.

Astral Weeks more than stands the test of time and paves the way for the emotional/spiritual themes and musical genres explored by Van Morrison in his long and diverse career.

If your taste in music is pure pop, then this album isn't for you. If, however, you are interested in the possibilities of music, and of the human voice to convey feelings, atmospheres and emotions, then this is an essential CD for your collection.

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