Van Morrison is set to release his latest album 'Keep It Simple' March 17, 2008 via Exile Productions/Polydor Records.

'Keep It Simple' is Van Morrison's first album of new material since 2005, and the first in several years in which he penned all 11 songs specifically for one album. In the interim the legendary artist had a year that may be unprecedented for any living artist, having released three separate collections of his hits, with the latest, 'Still On Top' entering the UK charts at #2 and selling platinum, proving the ongoing appetite for his unrivalled work.

Van Morrison's music has always incorporated the widely varied influences he heard and absorbed since his childhood days on the streets of Belfast - long before the bands of his youth and his initial breakthrough with Them. On 'Keep It Simple', Morrison honours all those varied influences - jazz, folk, blues, Celtic, country, soul and gospel - at times melding them all together at once in his own signature sound. "I felt I had something to say with these songs..." he explains. There is a definite theme that recurs throughout the album, especially in the title track.

In keeping with that idea, 'Keep It Simple' does not boast the big horns or string arrangements of some of Van Morrison's previous work. What it does feature are gorgeous songs rich with emotion, depth and beauty. As on the poignant "Soul," where Morrison repeats the chorus, as if to subtly remind us that, "Soul is a feeling, a feeling deep within. Soul is not the colour of your skin." Morrison explains his approach with the track "Entrainment" - "Entrainment is when you connect with the music...Entrainment is really what I'm getting at in the music...It's kind of when you're in the present moment - you're here - with no past or future."

Whether it's the easy country gospel of "Song of Home" or the bluesy swing of "How Can A Poor Boy," throughout 'Keep It Simple' Morrison exudes a wisdom gained through five decades of making groundbreaking music. Few artists have successfully recorded in as many genres of music as Van Morrison, and even fewer have remained as relevant for as long (only Ray Charles, with whom Van collaborated, comes to mind). Morrison has done so by constantly moving forward and never sitting still. On the heels of a series of "Best Of" releases, this record starts fresh with what could well be a record full of all new classics.

Van Morrison 2008 tour dates:

Dates could change! Go to Van Morrison's Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

January

Friday 18 - London, England, Hammersmith Apollo
Friday 25 - Sheffield, England, City Hall
Saturday 26 - Blackpool, England, Opera House
Thursday 31 - Castellon, Spain, Auditorio de Castellon

February

Friday 1 - Castellon, Spain, Auditorio de Castellon
Friday 29 - Cologne, Germany, Palladium

March

Saturday 1 - Frankfurt, Germany, Jahrhunderthalle
Friday 21 - Oxford, England, New Theatre
Saturday 22 - Bristol, England, Colston Hall
Thursday 27 - Manchester, England, Bridgewater Hall
Friday 28 - Manchester, England, Bridgewater Hall

April

Thursday 10 - Milano, Italy, Teatro degli Arcimboldi
Friday 11 - Milano, Italy, Teatro degli Arcimboldi
Friday 25 - Malmo, Sweden, Baltiska Hallen
Saturday 26 - Gothenburg, Sweden, Lisebergshallen

May

Friday 9 - Berlin, Germany, Tempodrom

Van Morrison - Keep It Simple on amazon.co.uk

Keep It Simple on amazon.com

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Van Morrison Official Website