If you overlook the financial calculations involved in recording, selling and buying, it becomes difficult to assess the worth of a piece of music to anyone. Music, no matter what kind, is valuable in itself. It can transcend time, language and cultures.

Van Morrison�s album, �Inarticulate Speech of the Heart�, is a collection of original songs which celebrates the spiritual side of people. It isn�t a bunch of songs dedicated to the description of a relationship between two people, but a demonstration of the creative spark, a recognition of the muse and a long range point of view of the human race. Not a love song to be found.

Few will go to the trouble of locating, buying and listening to the cd, alone, through to the end, perhaps in their favourite writing space, but if they did. If they did, they would find background music, muted, to create by, or upbeat songs to which to dance a jig or with which to hum along.

To each their own, choosing the music to background their writing, some preferring music with no lyrics, some no sound at all.

But for those who like a little music in the background, this album has everything. The instrumentals are similar to some of Mark Knopfler�s creations.

It would be a waste of time for me to try to describe each song in detail. That�s why Van Morrison wrote and recorded them.

In fact, the album has a release date of 1983. It�s over 20 years old and it�s the first time I�ve looked closely at it. Except for the cover which is clever and beautiful.

The songs can lighten up a room and pull one�s self out of self centred thoughts or draw one into deep contemplation. They can raise one�s spiritual eyes for a moment.

Maybe it�s just me. Maybe it will take two or three plays of this disc for others to appreciate it. I don�t know and delving analytically into it isn�t what I usually do. I just know that it�s nice to have it on in the background when I�m rereading what I�ve written the day before or when I�m checking out websites.

These songs which I know by heart often start me off writing before I switch to lyricless jazz.

It also helps with broken hearts, hangovers and situations of loneliness.

Steve Wheeler has had one fiction short story published by the Canadian Authors Association in their anthology, �Ten Stories High�, 2003 and will have another published in Canadian Stories this winter. His nonfiction story, �The Lion's Gate� was a winner in the city of Ottawa +55 short story, 2005 contest but was not published. Otherwise he is trying to get his short stories and novels read and published and awaiting the hockey season. To read Steve�s story, �The Piper� on the showcase section of this site, click here or to read Steve�s showcase story, �The North Cormorant� click

© 2006 Laura Hird All rights reserved.