Remembering Now – Van Morrison
*** ½

Remembering Now is the 79-year-old Van Morrison’s 47th studio album, his first of new music since 2022’s What’s It Gonna Take, and his best in many years. The album includes fourteen new songs of soul, jazz, blues, folk and country over sixty-eight minutes. Morrison’s voice is in fine shape on this album that has him singing love songs, looking back to his early years in Belfast, considering spiritual themes and a sense of wonder.
Morrison’s core band has been with him since the Three Chords and the Truth album in 2019. They are Richard Dunn (Hammond organ), Stuart McIlroy (piano), Pete Hurley (bass), and Colin Griffin (drums).  Fiachra Trench, whose history with Morrison goes back to 1989’s Avalon Sunset album, does the excellent string arrangements, performed by the Fews Ensemble led by Joanne Quigley. There are also horns, Seth Lakeman’s fiddle, and  gospel background vocals by Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, and others. Morrison provides lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, saxophone, and production.

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More of this reviewMusic NewsSong of the Week Lyrics ~ Christus Victor (Amen) by Bryan Fowler and Terrian

Here are a few comments about each song:

Down To Joy – This song was written by Morrison and was featured in Kenneth Branagh’s 2021 film Belfast. It is one of the more upbeat songs on the album. The song features horns, guitar, drums, bass, backing vocals and a guitar solo.
Key lyric:
Felt so good, gratitude
When I was coming down
It was something quite profound
That I cried out loud

If It Wasn’t For Ray – This joyful song was written by Morrison. It is a tribute to Ray Charles. The song features guitar, organ, drums, bass, backing vocals, horns, and piano.
Key lyric:
If it wasn’t for Ray
Wouldn’t be where I am today

Haven’t Lost My Sense Of Wonder – This beautiful song was written by Morrison. This song has Morrison referencing his 1985 song “Sense of Wonder”, one of a few times that phrase is mentioned on the album. The song features guitar, organ, bass, backing vocals, drums, piano, guitar, and an organ solo. He hasn’t lost his sense of wonder, he’s just trying to find his way back home, and do God’s plan.
Key lyric:
Because I’ve had my fill, I’ve been through the mill
Singing “Peace Be Still”

Love, Lover And Beloved – This easy-going song was written by Morrison, and is based on a book by Michael Beckwith, spiritual teacher at the Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, who is described as a “meditation teacher and seminar leader on the ‘Life Visioning Process’.” The song features piano, organ, horns, drums, bass, guitar, strings, and backing vocals.
Key lyrics:
You are the one
My precious one

Cutting Corners – This mid-tempo song was written by Morrison and Don Black. The song features fiddle, drums, guitar, bass, organ, backing vocals, and saxophone. He’s cutting corners and making do. It’s no life without her.
Key lyric:
I’m just cutting corners for too long
Feeling low but I’m acting strong

Back To Writing Love Songs – This easy-going song was written by Morrison. The song features organ, drums, backing vocals, horns, and a guitar solo. This could reference that he is back to writing love songs after a few albums of pandemic protest songs.
Key lyric:
Back to writing love songs (Love songs)
Got to play at the end of the days

The Only Love I Ever Need Is Yours – This beautiful song was written by Morrison and Don Black. The song features strings, backing vocals, and piano. He has flaws but they can work this out together.
Key lyric:
Then I seem a little distant
That’s another of my flaws
What we’ve got is worth saving
Only love I ever need is yours

Once In A Lifetime Feelings – This love song was written by Morrison and Don Black. The song features guitar, fiddle, drums, bass, organ, and backing vocals.
The song finds Morrison driving down to Monte Carlo with a lover, making plans for what they hope to do.
Key lyric:
These are once in a lifetime feelings
Never felt this way before
Once in a lifetime feeling
You’re everything I’ve waited for

Stomping Ground – This beautiful song was written by Morrison. He is looking back to Belfast, his old stomping ground. The song features piano, bass, percussion, backing vocals, strings, organ and a few saxophone solos.
Key lyric:
Back to the old stomping ground

Memories And Visions – This love song was written by Morrison. The song references sense of wonder and communion with nature and the spirit, and features percussion, strings, piano, backing vocals, guitar, and an organ solo.
Key lyric:
Memories and Visions
And that ain’t all there is

When The Rains Came – This slow blues song was written by Morrison. The title comes from a lyric in “Brown Eyed Girl” – “Hey, where did we go? Days when the rains came.” The song features drums, bass, organ, guitar, backing vocals, and two acoustic guitar solos.
Key lyric:
And these moments kept comforting me
In these trying times to come
And then the sun came out, shone so bright
Everything was right in the world, in the world

Colourblind – This upbeat song was written by Morrison. The song features organ, drums, bass, guitar, a saxophone solo, and backing vocals. The song’s lyrics refer to various colors.
Key lyric:
I left the blues behind
When I became just colourblind

Remembering Now – This slow blues song was written by Morrison. It features, drums, piano, bass, backing vocals, organ, and horns.
Key lyric:
This is what I need
Back here on the street
Back in Belfast
Strumming this guitar
It took me very far
This is who I am
This is where we are

Stretching Out – This nine-minute closing song was written by Morrison. The song, which references his 1995 song “Ancient Highway”, has Morrison looking back. It features strings, backing vocals, drums, piano, guitar and bass.
Key lyric:
Take me back
To shady lane
To the golden summer time
Down by the big oak tree

Favorite songs

Down for JoyIf It Wasn’t for RayHaven’t Lost My Sense of WonderStomping GroundWhen the Rains CameRemembering NowStretching Out

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This week’s song of the week is a new version of “Christus Victor (Amen)” by Bryan Fowler and Terrian. The song was written by Matt Boswell, Bryan Fowler, Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, and Matt Papa. Watch the lyric video for the song here.

Vs 1
O Most High, King of the ages
Great I AM, God of wonders
By the blood You have redeemed us
Led us through mighty waters
Our strength, our song, our sure salvation
Chorus 1
Now to the Lamb upon the throne
Be blessing, honor, glory, power
For the battle You have won
Hallelujah! Amen
Vs 2
O Most High, dwelling among us
Son of man sent for sinners
By Your blood You have redeemed us
Spotless Lamb, mighty Savior
Who lived, who died, who rose victorious
Chorus 2, 3
Now to the Lamb upon the throne
Be blessing, honor, glory, power
For the battle You have won
Hallelujah! Amen
With every tribe and every tongue
We join the anthem of the angels
In the triumph of the Son
Hallelujah! Amen
Last Chorus Tag
Sing the victory of the Lamb
Hallelujah! Amen
Vs 3
O Most High, King of the nations
Robed in praise, crowned with splendor
On that day who will not tremble?
When You stand Christ the Victor
Who was, and is, and is forever
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen, amen