Van Morrison's "Remembering Now" is his first collection of original music since 2022, following the critically acclaimed cover albums "Moving On Skiffle" and "Accentuate The Positive." The album's release is accompanied by the long-awaited single "Down To Joy," making its first official release after being featured in Kenneth Branagh's Oscar- and BAFTA-winning film "Belfast." With "Remembering Now," Van Morrison returns to the transcendent, uncategorizable rhapsodies that define him. Soul, jazz, blues, folk, country—this is music that connects with them all, yet is limited by none. It is rich in the hallmarks of classic Van Morrison, from the prevailing themes of love in spirit with the magnificent "Someone Like You" (the escapist romance of "Once In A Lifetime Feelings," the self-deprecating candor of "The Only Love I Ever Need Is Yours") to specific references to places from his youth in the title track and "Stomping Ground." The title of another song, "When the Rains Came," echoes lyrics from his classic "Brown Eyed Girl." From the radiant opener “Down to Joy” to the joyfully indulgent “Haven’t Lost My Sense of Wonder,” Van Morrison’s voice, guitar, and saxophone continue to captivate, and as always, he’s surrounded by a fabulous band—Richard Dunn (Hammond organ), Stuart McIlroy (piano), Pete Hurley (bass), and Colin Griffin (drums and percussion)—who have been collaborating with him since “Three Chords and the Truth” (2019). The single “Down to Joy” feels like a return to his soul and gospel roots. The strong emphasis on an uplifting big-band arrangement with evocative strings gives fans a taste of the timeless sounds that characterize the rest of the album. In addition to his core band members, a host of accomplished collaborators contribute to “Remembering Now.” The strings were arranged and conducted by Fiachra Trench (Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello), whose collaboration with Van Morrison dates back to ›Avalon Sunset‹ from 1989. The strings were played by the Fews Ensemble under the direction of Joanne Quigley.