Picked up a copy out of the library today and gave a listen.
All in all, I'd say this is a very good recording and performance.
The material is of course classic verging on legendary and has aged very well.
If you like the original "Astral Weeks", I'd recommend giving this new undertaking a spin. If AW is not your cup of tea, then there is nothing here that will likely change your mind.
The recording gives the material a very nice, robust and fulfilling contemporary sound treatment. I think this recording is worth it just for that.
The miking sounds very straightforward and gives the performers nice location and air.
My only complaint would be that there are stretches where you cannot distinguish a word Van is singing in that he lets the words fly pretty quickly without great attention to his annunciation.
Having said that, his is voice is actually in pretty good shape for his age and much better than I was expecting having read a few reviews of his recent performances of this material and having not heard any of his more recent recordings for the last few years.
All in all, I'd say this is a very good recording and performance.
The material is of course classic verging on legendary and has aged very well.
If you like the original "Astral Weeks", I'd recommend giving this new undertaking a spin. If AW is not your cup of tea, then there is nothing here that will likely change your mind.
The recording gives the material a very nice, robust and fulfilling contemporary sound treatment. I think this recording is worth it just for that.
The miking sounds very straightforward and gives the performers nice location and air.
My only complaint would be that there are stretches where you cannot distinguish a word Van is singing in that he lets the words fly pretty quickly without great attention to his annunciation.
Having said that, his is voice is actually in pretty good shape for his age and much better than I was expecting having read a few reviews of his recent performances of this material and having not heard any of his more recent recordings for the last few years.