Matt Released in 1991 being Van Morrison’s 21st studio album as well being a double containing quite a mix of styles covering Spiritual, Celtic, Narrative, Rock, Jazz and with a touch of Blues thrown in for good measure. Eclectic is one description but personally for me it’s just Van The Man doing what he has always done mixing it up but not just keeping various styles to predominately one album here we are getting them all. The Chieftains are back for two numbers, George Fame (Hammond organ , piano) , Terry Disley (piano), Candy Dulfer (alto sax), Dave Early (drums), Carol Kenyon, Katie Kissoon, (backing vocals) and the list goes on with two different bassists, flugelhorn, another pianist, accordion all employed for the various studio sessions recorded in London with Van himself inputting vocals, guitar, harmonica and alto sax within the album “Hymns To The Silence”

“Professional Jealousy’ gets it all going having a touch of resentment inserted into the lyrics over this mid tempo number with “I’m Not feeling It No Anymore” perhaps being a response for the prior number over a jaunty piano line throughout the song. Blues based “Ordinary Life” with Van on harmonica and a touch of Jazz follows with “Some Peace Of Mind” as the following “So Complicated” keeps that theme going.” Why Must I Always Explain” is often referred to the similarity with “Tupelo Honey” albeit at a slightly faster pace which seems to gel more with the song’s chorus. The Chieftains are the band for the Don Gibson classic country number “I Can’t Stop Loving You” with Van inserting guitar, Paddy Maloney with a Pipe solo and the two backing vocalists adding input for quite a nice take of the song. “Village Idiot” is one of the picks from the album which harkens back to “Crazy Face” from Van’s 1970 album “Van Morrison His Band And The Street Choir” with the odd one out being the topic but perhaps that is not the case at all for this lovely number. Spiritual is the base for the lovely “ See Me Through Part 11 (Just A Closer Walk With Thee)” containing a section of narrative with a later connection to his another narrative on the following disc “ On Hyndford St”. The last one is the slow Blues of “Take Me Back” with repetition a plenty within Van’s vocals in this stretched out delightful low key take.

The Spiritual comes to the fore within the second disc’s make up with the lively “By His Grace”, the Jazzed up “All Saints Day” following and the stunning title song “Hymns To The Silence”. Two narrations are included being “On Hyndford St” and “Pagan Streams” with the later being my pick. The Chieftains are back for another Spiritual “Be Thou My Vision” with the next “ Carrying A Torch” being the best ballad on the album with even Tom Jones using the number with three others contained within this album in his own 1991 release “Carrying A Torch”. The laid back “Green Mansions” and “Quality Street” follow with another nice ballad “It Must Be You” and the album finishing up with the love song “I Need Your Kind Of Loving”.

You won’t be rolling up the carpet or getting the dancing shoes on but this album is still one of Van Morrison’s best releases in the last thirty years containing a great mix of styles with plenty of great moments from Van’s vocals hitting the notes included. Needs a few plays and just have it on early morning, late at night or any quiet moments and just let it roll over and sing and dream along with all these beautiful hymns and narrations, to the silence.

Matt Van Morrison has teamed up with organist and trumpeter Joey DeFrancesco and his band for his latest offering making this, his 39th album “Your Driving Me Crazy” with quite a few of the songs included from his extensive back catalogue and some Standards thrown in for good measure. Jazz is the theme for this latest album as the previous “Versatile” was and as we all know Van has covered just about every mainstream genre of music throughout his career including Rock, Blues, Country, Celtic and Folk thrown in for good measure and this could be one of the main reasons for his durability maintaining his popularity by keeping the variety coming. Joey DeFrancesco has been around for a while as well since 1989 with his first Hard Bop release “All Of Me” and since has garnered quite a bit of acclaim with plenty of albums since and has pretty much been playing music since he first started at four years of age.

The Cole Porter song “Miss Otis Regrets” get things started with more of a leaning towards the slower take that Ella Fitzgerald used with Joey DeFrancesco on organ and trumpet for this relaxed opening number. “Hold It Right There” is perhaps not a Jazz standard but more towards Jump Blues that Joe Williams and Eddie (Cleanhead) Vinson had previously released with Van giving it a bit of his own touch with the addition of great little sax solo from Troy Roberts from Joey’s band inserted. “All Saints Day” originally came out Van’s 1991 album “Hymns To The Silence” and like that one both takes are organ based. “The Way Young Lovers Do” from “Astral Weeks” is quite a different feel to the original being mainly guitar backed with this more Jazzed up with the Joey’s organ right behind Van. The title ‘”Your Driving Me Crazy” was originally done by Guy Lombardo with a later take from Sinatra but Van’s version seems to be his own with quite a lovely take for this old song. “Close Enough For Jazz” Van has already recorded twice prior but with the songs construction why not as it just sits beautifully with album’s theme. There is another go at “Have I Told You Lately” originally appearing on “Avalon Sunset” with other back catalogue numbers “Goldfish Bowl”, “Evening Shadows”, “Magic Time” and a few more Standards with the album finishing up lovely little take of “Celtic Swing” originally from the album “Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart”

Nice little album with some great vibes and vocals but perhaps some new material might have helped but still even with that moan it is quite a nice little groover to have on.