The Absolute Sound

Rock Music Reviews Music Sonics Music Sonics Music Sonics Van Morrison. Born to Sing: No Mark Knopfler: Privateering. Hoff Ensemble: Quiet Winter Plan B. blue note. Mercury. Night. 2l (blu-ray and lp). Van Morrison’s first studio album since Nearly 35 years into a recording career Pick the wrong 30 seconds of this 2L 2008’s Keep It Simple marks his return to that began with the self-titled Dire Straits release and you may wonder if you’ve the Blue Note label (where he picked up album, singer-songwriter-guitarist-produ- wandered into Mannheim Steamroller a Grammy nomination for 2003’s What’s cer Knopfler holds as steady on his Land. Fear not. Though this set of 15 Wrong with This Picture?) and finds the pop course as such older baby-boom peers short compositions by the Norwegian and R&B singer and songwriter strolling as Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, and J.J. team of Geir Bøhren and Bent Åserud, on the jazzier side of street. Jazz is even Cale. He's amassed a boggling résumé rendered by the Hoff Ensemble plus six referenced in “Goin’ Down to Monte of collaboration—Tina Turner, Bob singers, is clearly of the Jazz Lite stripe, Carlo” on which Morrison complains Dylan, Chet Atkins, Steely Dan, Randy the music is harmonically inventive and about hearing “phony pseudo jazz” at Newman, Buddy Guy, the Chieftains, never cloying. The fact that the singing is a restaurant, and it’s the subject of the Prince, and others—and soundtrack in Norwegian and not translated anywhere swinging “Close Enough for Jazz.” The credits. However, on this 20-song double probably helps. All the tracks are down- heavy organ, prominent horn section, CD, his seventh solo studio recording, tempo and most ache with a minor-key and Morrison’s own sax playing, as well he narrows his focus to Celtic-inspired Northern European melancholy, but as his tight six-piece road band that backs folk tunes and laid-back folk-rock and nothing overstays its welcome. The entire him here, and especially Paul Moore’s blues. If not particularly venturesome, program runs only about 50 minutes. The excellent bass work, lend more than a it’s all warmly satisfying. His eloquent, multichannel option faithfully reproduces tinge of authentic jazz to the proceedings. note-bending electric, acoustic, and slide the deployment of the musicians as Still, while Born to Sing signals Morrison’s guitar solos, and the locked-in grooves of documented in session photos and the return to jazz and R&B, it’s nowhere near his band (augmented by accordionist Phil liner note’s diagrams. If the drums-to- as strong as 1995’s Verve CD How Long Cunningham, fiddler John McCusker, the-rear thing is too much for you, the Has This Been Going On? It peters out after whistle and pipes player Mike McGoldrick, stereo version—everything is 24/192 the first five tracks as Morrison gets self- harmonica ace Kim Wilson, and HD—is naturally configured. Vocals are referential and starts preaching about the mandolinist Tim O’Brien) sumptuously beautifully characterized and instrumental shortcomings of capitalism, the death of support Knopfler’s sleepy vocal rumble detail is stunning: listen to the expanding God, and shoddy news coverage. The as he intones narratives drawn from sound of a large cymbal struck with a soft strong traditional blues “Pagan Heart,” legend, story-telling traditions, and his mallet in “Dele alle ord og tanker.” The the next to the last track, leaves you own experience on the road. The folk LP is predictably wonderful (with better wishing for more of the same on this material is mystical and memorable; the stereo imaging) though you’re more well-recorded CD. gc blues more predictable and dispensable. likely to knock over your scented candle The rather congealed mix de-emphasizes running over to lift the stylus from the Further Listening: van Morrison: the supporting players, but forefronts run-out groove. Andrew quint How Long Has This Been Going Knopfler’s comfortable singing and On?; Pay the Devil playing. derk richardson Further Listening: Ana caram: Rio After Dark (sACD) Further Listening: MK and emmylou harris: Real Live Roadrunning 218 January 2013 the absolute sound.

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