Autmunal images (seared orange, pale yellow and green leaves), meditative paens to nature's harmonious beauty and God's love, musical notations on being a solitary human being in a large and sometimes difficult world, a rootsy and jaunty celtic instrumental. "Pastoral and low key" would be some of the surest adjectives to describe "A Sense of Wonder;" "soulfully soothing and occassionally enthralling" would be my humble critique. There is a wonderful and rare spiritual cohesiveness and harmony to this delightful, deceptively modest album that is rare to find or even stumble upon in any period. You can smell the leaves on the air.


A Sense of Wonder qualifies

This is easily one of the best albums that this brilliant musician has ever made. I highly recommed it. It happens to be the album that got me hooked on Van and made me realize just how brilliant, how sublime, how deep, he is. Prior to hearing this album, I only knew Van from his radio hits; I enjoyed them greatly, but (let's face it) they were far lighter, bouncier, and without the "spiritual" depth than you will encounter on this great album. I recommend turning down the lights, sipping some wine, adjusting the headphones just right, and then listening to each song three times before proceeding to the next one. Enjoy!

While not quite achieving the same pinnacle as (say) "No Guru ...", this is still a very fine album. Van is at the peak of his form vocally, and, as usual, his collaborators are superb musicians. The title tune is lovely, and "What Would I Do Without You" is heartfelt without being sentimental. And the version of "Boffyflow and Spike" on this album has a jazzy "flow" that's missing from the livelier (but still delightful) traditional-instruments version he does with the Chieftains on "Irish Heartbeat." I found "Let The Slave" rather weak, not because of the material or the melody, but because Morrison's diction isn't quite up to it at times. His ventures into mysticism (e.g., "The Master's Eyes") are well done but tend to be repetitious. And what's with that Zorro suit he wears on the cover? But, overall, I like the album a lot.

I do not think Sense Of Wonder is generally considered to be one of Morrison's essential albums, although it doesn't lack charm. Tore Down a la Rimbaud and Ancient Of Days are mid tempo ballads, the latter with intricate instrumental patterns, whilst Evening Meditation is a slow devotional number with wordless humming, a beautiful mood piece. The Master's Eyes is another slow hymn with particularly enchanting jangling guitar infusions. The title track is a spacey ballad boosted by impressive female vocals and some spoken vocals by Van towards the end. The pace picks up for Boffyflow & Spike, an energetic Celtic jig instrumental. The song If You Only Knew has a jerky, jazzy rhythm and is probably the closest track here to Van's unique style of R&B. It has lovely organ and sax twirls. Let The Slave is a meandering philosophical piece incorporating The Price Of Experience, a piece of spoken poetry whilst A New Kind Of Man is a melodic outing. Although Sense Of Wonder is by no means one of Morrison's best albums, I find much to enjoy here. By his high standards it probably deserves three stars but for the listening pleasure it gives me, I give it four stars.

Seldom is a CD titled so aptly: Van Morrison instills a true sense of wonder with the transcendant music and insightful lyrics he offers on this CD. His voice soars, the arrangements take flight, the disc progresses like a profoundly spiritual religious ceremony intended to baptize, confirm, and grant absolution to a weary soul.