Yep. Simple.

After more than 40 years and nearly 40 studio and live albums, Van Morrison has chosen his best assets: a straightforward use of instruments – especially the sax and steel guitar – and the power of his gruff voice. Shrugging off the more ornate pop sentiment of his earlier work, he has stripped his sound to its essentials.

Perhaps he’s tired of the fluff. The title of his album tells it like it is – simple words and pared-away sounds team up for 11 tracks of an aging star’s reflections.

Old fans will love references to past songs like “Wavelength,” but new listeners might need to hit repeat and let the music grow on them.

Van treats the listener to one pop song nearly as hooky as his classic “Sweet Thing.” On “That’s Entrainment,” he plays the ukulele backed by giddy hand clapping in a song mom and dad might dance to. He then muses over mysticism and aging, and the title track, “Keep it Simple” is pure and beautiful.

On the next track “Don’t Go to Nightclubs Anymore,” Van doesn’t try to be mysterious: “I’m not a legend in my own mind, don’t need juice to unwind.” Sex and drugs don’t please him anymore – just rock n’ roll.

The most memorable songs feature the ukulele, accordion and saxophone. Though each song is a well-planned use of voice and instrumentation, no common thread pulls them all together.

Yes, he stays true to the theme of simplicity, but the guy has the ability to rock a little harder. And with 11 musicians to back him, he should.

Finally, after keeping things uncomplicated for 10 tracks, Van busts out every instrument on the seven-minute finale “Behind the Ritual.” His words flow between saxophone and uke riffs as soulful voices croon in the background.

While longtime fans will appreciate the lyrical throwbacks to older work and the clean style that highlights Van’s voice, the album doesn’t stand alone as a masterpiece.