Magic Time

On Magic Time the nothing-left-to-prove Irish troubadour Van Morrison continues to revel in some quasi-romantic, pre-1970s period of pop culture, a Brigadoon of Celtic-flavored, misty-eyed blues-rock. Magic Time may look back over decades, but it's far from nostalgic. It connects the musical past to Morrison's present and points to a future in the timelessness of great musical tradition. And it displays in spades that its creator never stops looking for new ways to go deeper into the heart of song. Like a human infusion of chamomile tea, hearing Van Morrison's voice has the effect of instantly soothing even the most stressed listener. Magic Time is a wonderful balance of groove and smoothness.

Right from the start Stranded shows Van at his crooner best – relaxed, present, and joyful. Stranded has an elegant, timeless piano that cascades from the ether as a nocturnal alto saxophone (Morrison) announces a stolid yet world-weary vocal that unhurriedly moves along to a backing chorus. One can hear traces of the Platters' Twilight Time and the Penguins' Earth Angel in its grain. Celtic New Year comes next with a very Astral Weeks feel, leading one to believe that this disc might be sedentary through and through… until Keep Mediocrity At Bay (with some fine harp work by Morrison) kicks in, a feisty blues romp proving that though in his sixties, Morrison still has the sass of his best previous days. The covers all come from the American jazz canon. Morrison's versions of Sinatra's brassy This Love Of Mine and Perry Como's I'm Confessin' are full of cheek and charm. These tunes are beautifully placed in the album's mix and Morrison's readings are serious, very credible. While Just Like Greta is yet another Morrison litany to be left alone, its seductive melody draws the listener deep in with its shimmering organ, pronounced hypnotic line, mournful strings, and a chorus of female voices that add a softer dimension to its edgy intent. Gypsy In My Soul is pure, nocturnal velvet funk with great piano work. The acoustic The Lion This Time is one of the finest ballads Morrison has cut in decades. Through his lyrical frame, he reaches that place in the heart that whispers of longings so deep they lie beyond the reach of language. Morrison-as-producer has chosen stellar horn sections that elevate the music from good to great and come from an obvious deep love of classic blues and soul. He's a lover and a fighter (the disc has two references to his disdain of the music industry: They Sold Me Out and Carry On Regardless), but ultimately true to his own musical vision.

Magic Time is one of those rare, intermittent Van Morrison records that consciously offers a bird's eye view of everywhere he's been musically and weaves it all together into a heady brew. This album is restless and freewheeling. Lyrically, it's alternately bittersweet, celebratory, and ornery. Here, Celtic soul, gritty blues, finger popping swing, R&B, and classic pop all jockey for dominance over ten originals and three covers. Morrison's sequencing keeps them balanced and the proceedings sharp. The veteran singer-songwriter is still going strong nearly 40 years after launching his recording career. Magic Time delivers that familiar blanket on a chill winter’s day vibe, and Morrison fans will thankfully bury themselves under it. This destined-to-be-classic release will please a wide variety of his listeners.