Like fellow Irishman James Joyce with 'Ulysses', George Ivan Morrison wrote his masterpiece in exile, but imbued with a passion for home, in Morrison's case Belfast. 'Astral Weeks' is an album of reminisces for a Belfast of Morrison's childhood where he reflects on places, 'Cypress Avenue' and characters, 'Madame George'.
The album was recorded in two days with Morrison joined in the studio by members of The Modern Jazz Quartet. The album is one of rock musics most unclassifiable and majestic albums. Like Love's 'Forever Changes' and Nick Drake's 'Bryter Later', 'Astral Weeks is flawless and timeless. It is an album built on a relationship, side one being the 'before' and side two the 'after'. The album contains a wealth of diverse and diverting material but the centrepiece is the ten minute 'Madame George', a stream of consciousness piece that incorporates childhood memories, fantasy figures and real life locations. It takes a long time dying and the slow and haunting fade remains one of rock music's most elusive and enchanting moments.
'Astral Weeks' is an artefact that few other artists could ever have achieved and it is to Morrison's credit that today he can still conjure up the moods he so carefully captured 45 years ago on what many still believe to be one of the few truly indispensable rock albums. (Vox Magazine. 1991).
'Astral Weeks' is an artefact that few other artists could ever have achieved and it is to Morrison's credit that today he can still conjure up the moods he so carefully captured 45 years ago on what many still believe to be one of the few truly indispensable rock albums. (Vox Magazine. 1991).
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