What does the album ???
Those who expect the meditative Van Morrison a la "Astral Weeks", will be disappointed.
It outweigh jazzy and bluesy pieces (Ex. "Real Real Gone" with Michael Bubble) with folk deposits ("Irish Heartbeat" with Mark Knopfler).
The album is worth listening to, because it shows how good and how versatile timeless Vans is music.
Many pieces sound through the new arrangements even fresher than the originals of Van itself (eg. "Higher than the World" with George Benson) or the beautiful ballad "Carrying a Torch" with Clare Teal).
The album offers a range of creative Vans from 1974 ("Streets of Arklow" "with Mick Hucknall) to his most recent published in 2012 album" Born to Sing "(here with Chris Farlowe).
What surprised me is particularly the duet already mentioned with the soul prodigy Joss Stone; Year 1987th
"Wild Honey" (original 1980 Common One ") is beautifully arranged, and the voice of the old Grant Jewellers Van and the soulful Joss Stone harmonize fantastically.
Can criticize the album in my opinion, only die-hard "Vanologen", for it is a sacrilege if the Master "disfigured" his originals by having them dress in a younger more contemporary look.
I consider this worth hearing and very varied album grade geiegnet for beginners, for younger people who up to now might only know the legend Van Morrison by name.
Grade for this clientele is the album perfectly suited to meet one of the best rock voices of Pop and it will hopefully be inspired to dedicate themselves to the extensive work of the master ???
5 Stars.
Strong buy recommendation.
