Beautiful Vision (1982)

Beautiful Vision (1982)

Van has never been coy about his gifts, and so maybe the lyrics to the title track of this tremendous 1982 release could be interpreted as arrogance: “Beautiful vision/ stay with me all the time”. Surrounded by the context of the beatific atmosphere of this gorgeous record, it feels more like a prayer than a boast. Whatever the case, this is another collection of unforgettable Morrison songs, from the amiable pop of “Cleaning Windows” and “Dweller On The Threshold” to the slow burn instrumental of “Scandinavia”, which anticipates Sigur Rós years before their emergence. It takes a true visionary to know when winter is coming.