Van Morrison doesn't care if you're keeping up. He really doesn't. While the rest of the music industry obsesses over TikTok snippets and "viral moments," Van the Man just keeps digging into that same patch of Belfast soil he's been tilling since the sixties. In June 2025, he dropped Remembering Now, his 47th studio album. Honestly, for an artist who could easily just coast on "Brown Eyed Girl" royalties until the end of time, the sheer creative output is staggering.
But here is the thing: Remembering Now isn't just another entry in a bloated discography. It feels like a homecoming.
The Return of the Belfast Bard
The album marks a massive shift. After a few years of leaning heavily into skiffle covers and rock-and-roll standards with projects like Moving On Skiffle and Accentuate The Positive, Van has finally pivoted back to original songwriting. It’s his first collection of entirely new material since 2022.
If you've followed him for decades, you know the drill. There are moments on this record that feel like he’s having a direct conversation with his younger self from the Veedon Fleece or Common One eras.
It's deep. It’s soulful. And yeah, it’s occasionally a bit cranky, because he wouldn’t be Van Morrison without a little edge. But the overarching vibe? It’s one of "spiritual retrieval." He’s looking for something.
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What Van Morrison Remembering Now Gets Right
The album kicks off with "Down To Joy," a track fans have been hunting for since it appeared in Kenneth Branagh’s film Belfast. It’s a literal ray of sunshine. Big brass, jazzy chords, and that signature Morrison growl that sounds remarkably preserved for a man approaching eighty.
Then you get into the meat of the record. Tracks like "Haven't Lost My Sense Of Wonder" and the title track "Remembering Now" function as a kind of mantra. He’s not just reminiscing about the old days in Northern Ireland. He’s trying to inhabit the now while acknowledging how the then shaped him.
A breakdown of the standout moments:
- The Title Track: "Remembering Now" is a slow-burning, R&B-infused meditation. He repeats the phrase "This is who I am" like a prayer. It’s gritty, noirish, and deeply personal.
- Stretching Out: This is the nine-minute closer. It’s the "Listen to the Lion" of 2025. He lets the band breathe. He lets his saxophone do the talking. It’s basically a masterclass in improvisational groove.
- Stomping Ground: A litany of Belfast landmarks. If you’ve ever walked down Cyprus Avenue, this song will hit you in the gut. The string arrangements by Fiachra Trench (who worked on Avalon Sunset) add a cinematic weight that’s been missing from his more recent "paint-by-numbers" blues albums.
The Don Black and Michael Beckwith Connection
One of the most surprising things about the Remembering Now sessions is the list of collaborators. Van worked with legendary lyricist Don Black on three tracks, including "The Only Love I Ever Need Is Yours." This is the guy who wrote for Ennio Morricone and John Barry.
He also brought in Michael Beckwith from the Agape International Spiritual Center. You can hear that influence in the lyrics of "Love, Lover And Beloved." It’s less about romantic love and more about a cosmic, universal connection.
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It’s an interesting pivot. Some critics, like those at Uncut or Mojo, have pointed out that while the album is long—running over an hour—it contains some of his most "thrillingly airborne" music in years.
Why People Are Still Talking About It in 2026
We are now in 2026, and the conversation around this album hasn't faded. In fact, with his latest 2026 release Somebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge just hitting the shelves in January, fans are looking back at Remembering Now as the catalyst for his current "purple patch."
Some diehards on Reddit argue it’s a "Top 5" Van album. That might be a stretch given the existence of Astral Weeks and Moondance, but it’s definitely his most consistent work since Keep Me Singing.
The album doesn't try to be trendy. It doesn't feature a pop star for "reach." It’s just an old master in a room with a Hammond organ, a world-class rhythm section (shoutout to Pete Hurley and Colin Griffin), and a lifetime of ghosts to talk to.
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Actionable Insights for the Casual Listener
If you’re just diving into the world of late-period Van Morrison, don't try to swallow the whole 14-track album at once. It’s dense.
- Start with "Down To Joy" to get the R&B blood pumping.
- Move to "Haven't Lost My Sense Of Wonder" for that classic, uplifting "Sense of Wonder" era vibe.
- Save "Stretching Out" for a quiet night. This is a song that requires headphones and zero distractions. It’s an immersive experience.
- Listen for the "Easter Eggs." Van references his own catalog constantly. "When The Rains Came" is a direct nod to the imagery in "Brown Eyed Girl" and "And It Stoned Me."
Van Morrison's Remembering Now is a testament to the idea that you don't have to reinvent yourself to stay relevant. You just have to stay true to the "inarticulate speech of the heart."
He’s still the Belfast Cowboy. He’s still searching for the mystic. And based on the strength of this record, he’s closer than ever to finding it.