After announcing the June 13th release of his new album ‘Remembering Now’ alongside the official release of ‘Down To Joy’, Van Morrison now releases the follow-up single ‘Cutting Corners’. The song has just been premiered on Radio 2 by Mark Goodier, who is covering Scott Mills’ show.
Uniting his soul and Irish folk roots, ‘Cutting Corners’ claims its place amongst Van Morrison’s many classic moments. His inimitable voice is as timeless as ever, while the interweaving gospel-tinged female vocal harmonies help to capture the song’s melancholy emotions.
‘Cutting Corners’ and ‘Down To Joy’ preview ‘Remembering Now’, which will be Van Morrison’s first collection of original music since 2022 and follows the acclaimed covers albums ‘Moving On Skiffle’ and ‘Accentuate The Positive’. The record sees him return 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’. 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.
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.
‘Remembering Now’ is available to pre-order HERE. It will be released on black double-vinyl, orange double-vinyl, CD, cassette and digital formats.
Van Morrison’s upcoming tour schedule runs as below. His summer plans culminate with two special 80th birthday celebration concerts at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall. Please see HERE for ticket details.
JUNE
4th – Madrid, Night of the Botanical Festival (SOLD OUT)
5th – Madrid, Night of the Botanical Festival (SOLD OUT)
23rd – Belfast, Europa Hotel (SOLD OUT)
24th – Belfast, Europa Hotel (SOLD OUT)
26th – Dublin, Malahide Castle (special guest to Neil Young)
JULY
1st – Groningen, Stadspark (special guest to Neil Young)
11th – London, BST Hyde Park (special guest to Neil Young)
AUGUST
30th – Belfast, Waterfront Hall (ADDED DATE)
31st – Belfast, Waterfront Hall (SOLD OUT)
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