Altered Zones

Matt Horseshit of Psychedelic Horseshit says:
I would normally consider it sacrilegious to cover Van Morrison’s “Astral Weeks.” It's just that close to me; I consider the original to be a mystical document not to be messed with. So when I first heard this cover by Jim Shepard emanating out of a boombox perched atop a British girl's head outside an Omar Souleyman show a little over a year ago, I literally did a double-take. One of my favorite songs, in a version I've never heard before? "Is this a demo or something?" I asked the cute, drugged-out, pink-haired boombox head. "No, I think it’s a cover... Some American guy... I forget his name. Jim something, maybe? I have the tracklist back in my room".

Needless to say, I was entranced, and gladly followed her to the place where she was staying, sensing I was gonna get more outta this than the identity of the singer. I was right, but more than that, a bit of magic and synchronicity had apparently descended upon that night, ‘cause when I woke in the morning and finally checked out the tracklist, I found that the singer singing this supposedly untouchable song was none other than Jim Shepard (V-3, Vertical Slit). Not only was this weird because he was based outta Columbus, OH (my hometown and current place of residence) for most of his musical career, but also because, here I was, halfway around the globe, hearing this amazing cover that was recorded in a coffee shop just up the road from where I live. Weird how stuff like that happens when you're in strange lands. Anyways, we both agreed that it was too perfect a coincidence for me not to take this tape with me back to its home, so I did.

I subsequently lost said tape, but I never forgot about the powerful cover I heard on that magic night. Listening back now, I feel closer to it than ever.

The truly amazing thing about this is that Jim's take, recorded live at the Milo Arts Coffee House sometime in the early ‘90s, matches and maybe even bests the fire and deep emotional intensity of the original. Which says a whole lot. It’s practically seething with that "shocked-by-the-heaviness-of-life," wide-eyed-yet-weary-faced, trance-like venom that was corked into the original so long ago. And Jim really takes flight here, using the song as a springboard for his own venture into the slip-stream, tearing a page from his soul, ad-libbing lyrics and actually being born again in the process. Backed only by his own acoustic and an incredible lead performance by a certain Nudge Squidfish, this 7.5 minute take benefits from its bare-bones backing because it brings out the rawness of the content. "If I was born again,/ I wouldn't know anybody in this room./ I'd be 18 in the year 2000" he sings, soaring at full-sail atop the clouds, wandering for some kinda redemption. By the end, I feel like he's got it. It’s the kinda stuff dreams are made of for me, but you should really judge for yourself.

Lastly, the opening 30 seconds of this are priceless, as you can hear Jim introducing the song and then quietly asking Nudge if he knows the changes. "I hope we don't blow it.”

Special thanks to Charles Cicirella for preserving and providing this amazing document.

MP3: Jim Shepard: "Astral Weeks (Van Morrison Cover, 199?)"