Van Morrison returns with one of his best albums for decades, looking back on his life and career on Remembering Now.

Van the Man lost a lot of respect – and fans – four years ago when he made a comically Covid-sceptical during the pandemic.

Filled with anti-lockdown polemics, songs with titles like The Long Con, They Own The Media and (worst of all) Why Are You On Facebook? had lyrics to match, and put him in a small category of sad old rockers (see also: Eric Clapton) ranting about the vaccine.

What was all too easily forgotten amid the mockery is that the music on most of the songs on that album – self-mockingly titled Latest Record Project Volume 1 – was as good as anything he’d made for years.

Maybe not since those halcyon days of Astral Weeks and Veedon Fleece, but certainly for a decade or two.

And now he’s back, doing that unique brand of Celtic soul infused with swing, folk, gospel, jazz, R&B and an abiding sense of wonder on another new album. His 47th studio effort, in case you’re counting.

Approaching the age of 80, and assailed by the brickbats of critics for his grumpy persona as much as his anti-vax stance, the auld fella could be forgiven for kicking back and enjoying retirement.

Ever the contrarian, he’s been as busy as ever. He’s released five albums in the past year or so, including live sets and instrumentals, and now there’s another new one.

As its title suggests, Remembering Now finds Van reflecting on past glories, past loves, past experiences, with his band hitting the spot just perfectly.

Never more so than on this self-explanatory number, Haven’t Lost My Sense Of Wonder.