Van’s 1990 offer Enlightenment dwells to great effect on the ecstatic nature of Morrison’s profound religious conviction, resulting in great upbeat gospel numbers like the killer opener “Real Real Gone” and the off the cuff improvised brilliance of “Youth Of A 1000 Summers”. As with his frienemy Bob Dylan, Van’s spiritual exertions tend to yield work somewhere between the tiresome and the transcendent. Here the balance is decidedly on the latter side, with buoyant performances and exciting arrangements making Enlightenment one of his greatest albums of the 90’s. Bonus points for Van’s truly strange and wonderful collaboration with Irish poet Paul Durcan on “The Days Before Rock And Roll”, proof that his experimental spirit is far from dormant.