Canalien
08-03-2006, 03:03 AM
I have never properly thanked my parents for exposing me to the music of their generation. I clearly recall asking my father when I was about 6 if we could listen to the Eric Clapton tape in the car on the way home one day. One of my father's friends was visibly surprised to hear this from a 6 year old. Dad grinned and said "I'm getting him started early".
One of those early influences was Van Morrison, in particular his second album Moondance, which I started listening to around 8 or 9. It's hard not to feel some sort of attachment to parts of your child hood such as this, but Moondance holds an extra special place in my heart.
At the risk of sounding like a complete wanker; the first time I heard Moondance I felt a connection to it. I could completely relate, and felt it almost defined me - a strange feelings for a 9 year old. It seemed to represent a kind of quality of life that appealed to me deeply. I'm talking way down on Id level by the way, a kind of truth in the music that I would hopefully one day find.
I know that sounds a bit overboard, but I put it on today (hence this review), after having not listened for at least a year and BAM! all these emotions come right back up as strong as ever. I still get shivers listening to certain sections knowing there's something in there that connects to me somehow.
The album sleeve has a short precis of Morrison and Moondance, which contains the following: "Moondance's themes of mysticism, romance and personal quest..."
So I'm not crazy, these things are there.
The themes are a natural follow on to Morrison's first album Astral Weeks which, though critically acclaimed since it's release, was not commerically successful. Morrison's work has been called a sort of musical Impressionism, evoking emotions and images rather than narratives. The same is true about both Astral Weeks and Moondance, however the difference lies in the style of music.
Astral Weeks was long, slow and at times seemed confusing and over-complex. On Moondance Morrison explored further the folk/R&B fusion style of his music and too on producing duties himself on order to get exactly what he wanted. The result was a sound that was more accessible to a much wider audience without sacrificing the integrity of his art. The resulting balance meant both critical and commerical success.Comparatively, Moondance is faster, more upbeat and while still reflective and in some cases solemn, generally has a more positive sound.
http://forum.zgeek.com/gallery/files/7/6/Vm1.jpgThe opening track 'And it Stoned Me' is the most narrative of the tracks, recalling what seems to be an event in Morrison's youth, but nonetheless promoting what Morrison felt over what he saw at the time. There is an elemental pureness in the track, which seems to speak of a sort of enlightenment or moment of clarity represented or brought on by the presence of Water.
Following this, and representing the album's other recurrent theme of romance, as well as a more upbeat sound is the title track. The classic 'Moondance' is instantly recognizable within seconds from it's catchy piano opening and has been covered by a myriad of artists since. It's more of a traditional style pop song but succeeds in going much deeper than that, conjuring a feel reminiscent of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, a story to which the album would make a worthy soundtrack.
I won't go into analyzing ever track, it's better to listen yourself (and to be honest, I don't want to destroy the mystery for myself), but the first two tracks give a good indication of the themes present throughout the album.
Special mention must go to 'Into the Mystic', the album's strongest, most powerful and defining song. A combination of the themes of mysticism and romance, it is a little slice of heaven backed by a great horn section that will have you closing your eyes, feeling every note and wishing it went was twice as long.
You may not feel the freakish connection to the album that I do, but it's an uplifting piece of work that has an almost spiritual feel to it, even for the most secular of folks.
One of those early influences was Van Morrison, in particular his second album Moondance, which I started listening to around 8 or 9. It's hard not to feel some sort of attachment to parts of your child hood such as this, but Moondance holds an extra special place in my heart.
At the risk of sounding like a complete wanker; the first time I heard Moondance I felt a connection to it. I could completely relate, and felt it almost defined me - a strange feelings for a 9 year old. It seemed to represent a kind of quality of life that appealed to me deeply. I'm talking way down on Id level by the way, a kind of truth in the music that I would hopefully one day find.
I know that sounds a bit overboard, but I put it on today (hence this review), after having not listened for at least a year and BAM! all these emotions come right back up as strong as ever. I still get shivers listening to certain sections knowing there's something in there that connects to me somehow.
The album sleeve has a short precis of Morrison and Moondance, which contains the following: "Moondance's themes of mysticism, romance and personal quest..."
So I'm not crazy, these things are there.
The themes are a natural follow on to Morrison's first album Astral Weeks which, though critically acclaimed since it's release, was not commerically successful. Morrison's work has been called a sort of musical Impressionism, evoking emotions and images rather than narratives. The same is true about both Astral Weeks and Moondance, however the difference lies in the style of music.
Astral Weeks was long, slow and at times seemed confusing and over-complex. On Moondance Morrison explored further the folk/R&B fusion style of his music and too on producing duties himself on order to get exactly what he wanted. The result was a sound that was more accessible to a much wider audience without sacrificing the integrity of his art. The resulting balance meant both critical and commerical success.Comparatively, Moondance is faster, more upbeat and while still reflective and in some cases solemn, generally has a more positive sound.
http://forum.zgeek.com/gallery/files/7/6/Vm1.jpgThe opening track 'And it Stoned Me' is the most narrative of the tracks, recalling what seems to be an event in Morrison's youth, but nonetheless promoting what Morrison felt over what he saw at the time. There is an elemental pureness in the track, which seems to speak of a sort of enlightenment or moment of clarity represented or brought on by the presence of Water.
Following this, and representing the album's other recurrent theme of romance, as well as a more upbeat sound is the title track. The classic 'Moondance' is instantly recognizable within seconds from it's catchy piano opening and has been covered by a myriad of artists since. It's more of a traditional style pop song but succeeds in going much deeper than that, conjuring a feel reminiscent of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, a story to which the album would make a worthy soundtrack.
I won't go into analyzing ever track, it's better to listen yourself (and to be honest, I don't want to destroy the mystery for myself), but the first two tracks give a good indication of the themes present throughout the album.
Special mention must go to 'Into the Mystic', the album's strongest, most powerful and defining song. A combination of the themes of mysticism and romance, it is a little slice of heaven backed by a great horn section that will have you closing your eyes, feeling every note and wishing it went was twice as long.
You may not feel the freakish connection to the album that I do, but it's an uplifting piece of work that has an almost spiritual feel to it, even for the most secular of folks.