If Astral Weeks is the work of a poet, its sequel comes on as the statement of a fully realized musician and bandleader. Van Morrison‘s Moondance is that rare rock album where the band has buffed the arrangements to pure perfection.

The pastoral imagery of the sweetly nostalgic album opener, “And It Stoned Me,” establishes the dominant lyrical motif recurring throughout the album. Virtually every track is bathed in natural wonder, whether it’s the nocturnal magic celebrated by the title cut or the unlimited promise offered in “Brand New Day.” “Caravan,” an incantatory ode to the power of radio, lies at the heart of the record, while the equally stirring “Into the Mystic” arrives as a song of elemental beauty and grace. Moondance shows an artist enraptured by a new-found musical freedom, blending together elements of gospel, rhythm & blues, jazz, and rock.