‘Down To Joy’ is the first single from Van Morrison’s forthcoming new studio album ‘Remembering Now’ out June 13th. This uplifting opening track, originally featured in Kenneth Branagh’s acclaimed film Belfast (2021), is now available as a single for the first time. Looking back while moving forward, ‘Remembering Now’ is one of Van Morrison’s most vital records in recent years. His first collection of all-original music since ‘What’s It Gonna Take?’ (2022), this album marks a return to the transcendent, genre-defying rhapsodies that make Morrison truly unique.
With “Remembering Now”, Van Morrison returns to the transcendent, uncategorisable rhapsodies that make him unique. Soul, jazz, blues, folk, country – this is music in conversation with all of them but limited by none. Its rich with hallmarks of classic Van Morrison, from dominant themes of love in spirit with the great ‘Someone Like You’ (the escapist romance of ‘Once In A Lifetime Feelings’, the self-deprecating candour of ‘The Only Love I Ever Need Is Yours’) to specific references to locations from his youth in the title track and ‘Stomping Ground’. The title of another song, ‘When the Rains Came’, echoes a lyric from his classic ‘Brown Eyed Girl’.
From the radiant opener, ‘Down to Joy’, to the joyously resilient ‘Haven’t Lost My Sense of Wonder’, Van Morrison’s voice, guitar and saxophone continue to mesmerise and he is surrounded, as always, by a fabulous band – Richard Dunn (Hammond organ), Stuart McIlroy (piano), Pete Hurley (bass) and Colin Griffin (drums and percussion) – who have worked with him since ‘Three Chords and the Truth’ in 2019.
The single ‘Down To Joy’ feels like he has gone back to his soul and gospel roots, its strong emphasis on an uplifting big band arrangement with evocative strings providing fans with a taste of timeless sounds which represents the rest of the album. Beyond his key band members, “Remembering Now” features an array of accomplished collaborators. Its strings were arranged and directed by Fiachra Trench (Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello), whose association with Van Morrison goes back to ‘Avalon Sunset’ in 1989. Those strings were performed by the Fews Ensemble led by Joanne Quigley. Other contributions come from Michael Beckwith, the founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center, the renowned lyricist Don Black (Ennio Morricone, John Barry, Quincy Jones); and the acclaimed folk artist Seth Lakeman.
The album follows the acclaimed covers albums “Moving On Skiffle” and “Accentuate The Positive”. Remembering Now’ (out June 13th)
The Fat Angel Sings 