What does it sound like?:
There’s been so much written about this album over the past thirty odd years it’s hard to know where to begin or what to say that hasn’t already been said.
This is an album that after all these years still sounds warm, rich and luxurious and manages to simultaneously convey a sense of longing, a desire, an essence.
It is an album heavy with yearning, a great rich stew of a record that seems to be about everything and nothing, the past and the present, the permanent and the fleeting, the dream and the reality.
Choose your own favourite from this hypnotic song cycle – the ecstatic Sweet Thing, the bewitching Madame George, the fluid Astral Weeks, the tangle of reminiscences that make up Cyprus Avenue. Personally, I’ve always had a soft spot for the beautiful Ballerina and the enigmatic drama of the closing Slim Slow Slider.
This remastered version comes with four previously unreleased alternate takes – they are interesting from a historical perspective, but this is an album that needs no extras – the original in itself remains perfect in its unsurpassed completeness and complexity.
What does it all *mean*?
Lester Bangs put it best – ‘ in so far as it can be pinned down, Astral Weeks is a record about people stunned by life, completely overwhelmed, stalled in their skins, their ages and selves, paralysed by the enormity of what in one moment of vision they can comprehend – one moment’s knowledge of the miracle of life.’
Goes well with…
A long lazy winter’s evening in front of the fire, an evening of good wine and good company, with maybe something a little stronger thrown in for good measure,
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Discovering what the fuss about Van Morrison is all about. If you’re hearing Astral Weeks for the first time then you are very lucky indeed. If you’re already familiar with this music but you’ve not listened for far too long a time, then now is the perfect opportunity to renew your acquaintance with it. This work remains an extraordinary creation, a truly maverick masterpiece.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&field-keywords=B014K3640M%7CB014K364JI&linkCode=ur2&tag=rhinocouk-21&url
Great review, thank you. You’ve really done justice to this magnificent album. I agree, it’s very hard to know what to say; I think you’re right in that it’s ‘ a record that seems to be about everything and nothing, the past and the present, the permanent and the fleeting, the dream and the reality.’
I always really like reading your reviews but I think this is your best one: I really like your succinct and apposite descriptions of the tracks, which really capture the spirit of the songs.
(No mention for ‘Beside You’? *raises eyebrow* ) 😉
There’s a good alternate take of ‘Beside You’ in the bonus tracks which you will enjoy.
Ooooh! Must listen, having been saving it for after your review.
Brilliant review. One of the greatest records ever made.
That’s a really excellent review of one of my all-time favourite albums. That’s abreast quote from Lester about the ‘one moment of vision’. No matter how often I listen to it, I never fall to experience transcendence on each and every listen. It has an effect on me like no other.
More mundanely, how does the remaster sound and are any of the bonus tracks any good. I think the problem with adding these is that it may spoil the self-contained beauty of the original.
‘Abreast’!? A great quote.
The sound is good certainly – the four alternate takes are well worth a listen, especially the longer attempts at Ballerina and Slim Slow Slider, but really all you need is the songs on the original album.
If you didn’t know there was an interesting program this week on Radio 4 about Cyprus Avenue that’s still available to hear. It provides interesting insight into the lyrics but it also provides an even more interesting insight into how people interpret the song in their own lives and have been guided by it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06d2g8z
I’ve listened to this album for so many years it’s impossible to be objective about it. For me it’s the equanimous musical counterpoint to Dylan going electric with The Band; from the direct, raucous electric howl of Them to the muted acoustic lamentation of Astral Weeks. What’s interesting is that despite all the mysticism and stream of consciousness in the lyrics what’s never faded over the years of listening to the album is the clear sound of Van’s soul still howling loudly.
Ok so BP says it sounds better.
We all know it is a classic and essential to any collection. The question is – does this release justify purchasing another copy to add to the collection?
Great review of a magnificent album.
Announced a long time ago, Amazon suggests that it’s still not available until the end of October!
Mind, if it’s about a tenner I might upgrade as it’ll compliment the Dylan (definitely) and Beatles (possibly) releases.
Looks like the rest of Van’s back catalogue is only going to be available to vinyl vultures (£30 to you, Sir) and/or the fresh air brigade, thereby missing out on thousands and thousands of CD sales, but, hey, the record industry c. 2015 knows best.
£7.99 it seems on Amazon.
“Sounds better” is pretty subjective. My 80s(?) Vinyl issue sounds fine to me.
Fabulous review! I already of the CD. Is the remaster really worth forking out for it again? The additional tracks don’t strike me as adding much.
Maybe check it out first on Spotify once it appears before you decide.
I already have the 180g vinyl reissue from a couple of years back so I don’t think I need another version, but this review has inspired me to put the album on when I get home from work tonight!
Indeed a great review
Couldn’t agree more with the “goes well with a long lazy winter evening”. I’m here to report that it goes equally well with a long hot Aussie Saturday evening, perhaps some rosé, perhaps not, friends milling about the back garden and wondering what’s going on in the background, knowing it’s a youthful familiar voice but never having been through the whole experience. The alternate takes are fascinating.