release date: Jul. 1986
format: vinyl / cd (2008 remaster)
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,28]
producer: Van Morrison
label: Mercury / Exile, Polydor - nationality: Northern Ireland, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Got to Go Back" (4 / 5) - 2. "Oh the Warm Feeling" - 3. "Foreign Window" (4 / 5) - 4. "A Town Called Paradise" - 5. "In the Garden" (5 / 5) (live - live 2017) - 7. "Here Comes the Knight" - 8. "Thanks for the Information" (4 / 5) - 9. "One Irish Rover" (4,5 / 5) - 10. "Ivory Tower" - *12. "Lonely at the Top"
* Bonus track on CD remaster
16th studio album by Van Morrison following 1½ years after A Sense of Wonder (1984).
The front cover is a photo collage with Van on the left and what appears to be the photograph of a sculpture of Chinese philosopher Confucius on the right. The title of the album is with reference to Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, who said "[It all] depends on you, and not someone else, because in this there is no teacher, no pupil; there is no leader; there is no guru; there is no Master, no Saviour. You yourself are the teacher and the pupil; you are the Master; you are the guru; you are the leader; you are everything" (1966). With this, Van continues his open spiritual search, but with that new statement that he is not part of the Jehovas Witnesses, the Scientology movement or any other specific belief - only underlining that he has come to an understanding of the importance of the individual's own choices.
In retrospect, the album has come to be regarded as a bit of a cornerstone in his long career. From this, he really produces a series of some of his most acclaimed works. During the 80s, he is said to have suffered from writers' block, which had him rethink his artistic role and to even consider a complete retirement from the music business.
As Nick Coleman of the Independent puts it (here): "The four great Van albums are ‘Astral Weeks’, ‘Moondance’, ‘Veedon Fleece’ and … this one." - I do understand what he means, though I would add at least another two or three studio albums, but there's a strong common link to the potency of Van Morrison to all these (quite) different albums but they all share the powers of one man's songwriting and especially the unique force of his soulful vocal. He didn't participate in the gospel choirs growing up in Northern Ireland but he sings as if he was raised on nothing but Northern soul. On the fabulous "In the Garden" he sings "No Guru, No Method, No Teacher - Just you and I and nature - And the Father and the son and the holy ghost - In the garden". Does this reveal that Van is hanging on to an idea of the almighty Christian father figure, despite references to Krishnamurti? 'Cause the Indian philosopher also said: "I maintain that Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect" (jiddu-krishnamurti.net), which doesn't coincide with a belief in the holy ghost, Van. [If you really are a true believer, you will find reason in all statements by Newton and Darwin to our current times of Victor Stenger and Richard Dawkins]. And it seems Van has landed a new understanding of the meaning of... everything. In some songs you'll find references to a belief in higher spirits, and then in others he claims to have come to realise it was all a hoax, as in "Thanks for the Information" when he sings: "Thanks for the invitation - I know I must be on to something big - Every time, I take two steps forward - I end up having to take three back [...] Thanks for the information - Thanks for the memory." Meaning: he's now over searching new truths about a higher understanding? And in that regard you can take almost any song on the album and find words and bits about a disbelief and what seems like a new confirmation that it's Okay not be in search of the light of truth, or a new water hole to drink from together with other believers but in fact be on your own in your understanding - regardless what that is.
And regardless belief, truth and 'truth' this very album contains some truly fine soulful compositions with a solid backing band and a balanced maturity in his vocal performance, which is the beautiful narration and the finest instrument.
Highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, Hot Press 11 / 12 stars ]
