Sunday, September 28, 2014

"Into the Mystic" (Van Morrison)

Van Morrison's Moondance (1970) is one of those rare albums that fits any mood.  Its tinges of R&B and jazz can drag me out of gloom when I'm down or play the perfect companion when things are sunny.  At the same time, its folk-rock jangle can be the perfect prescription for soothing a stressful day.
It's just a well made, genre-defying record that stands the test of time.
One of my favorite tracks from the album is "Into the Mystic."  Originally titled "Into the Misty," Morrison sensed the inherent spirituality of the song and decided "Into the Mystic" was a richer, more fitting title.  In it, Morrison uses vivid seafaring imagery and a soulful, bass-driven groove to explore the spiritual side of the human condition, poetically addressing everything from love to mortality in a mere three minutes.
In short, there's nothing quite like hearing Van the Man belt out I wanna rock your gypsy soul followed by that dual saxophone riff to make your spirit feel like it's soaring.




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