Yusuf Islam: An Other Cup
Thursday, 16 Nov 2006 09:56
Yusuf Islam back after a 28-year break
Polydor Records, out now.
In a nutshell…
Mellow, spiritual, hopeful
What's it all about?
This is Yusuf Islam's first offering since Back to Earth in 1979. Back then he was still called Cat Stevens. Three decades away from the music business and a conversion to Islam later, he brings us An Other Cup.
The album itself is the result of two years of writing about his faith, love and his desire to see a more just and more peaceful world. All the tracks are his own, apart from Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, which was made famous by Nina Simone. Yusuf included it on the album on his wife's advice.
Who's it by
Thirty years ago Yusuf Islam, or Cat Stevens as he was then, was a youthful, handsome pop star. Commercially successful, he had graduated from the sharp suites of the 60s and was embracing the spirituality of the early 70s.
After exploring Zen Buddhism, numerology and astrology as a young man, Stevens converted to Islam and changed his name to Yusuf Islam. Now a respected member of Britain's Muslim community he has released his first collection of new songs in 28 years.
As an example…
I've dreamt of the open world borderless and wild
Where people move from place to place and nobody takes sides
(Maybe There's a World)
There is peace, you can taste it if you try
You can embrace it if you try
There is love, you can live it if you try
You can give it if you try
(There is a Place)
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Fans of Cat Stevens will not be disappointed but it might lack the punch necessary to get on the radar of major music awards. The album is also very samey and will probably not win over too many converts (no pun intended). You also have to wonder whether An Other Cup might suffer for political and not just creative reasons.
What the others say
"Sufferable for sure, but hard to recommend," Christian Hoard (Rolling Stone)
"Most of these songs are gentle pleas for tolerance, harmony and divine guidance… can't see the jihadists queuing up to download it, though," Adam Sweeting (Uncut)
So is it any good?
Anyone under the age of 35 will probably only have heard of Yusuf Islam when the FBI hauled him off a plane three years ago and refused him entry to the US. But rather than a terrorist mastermind, the 70s pop star who converted to Islam is only interested in peace, love and spirituality.
Those themes run throughout An Other Cup and it is clear that Yusuf's faith has given his life the direction he sought as a young man. Musically though, fans of Cat Stevens will recognise his mellow, tender delivery.
If you're a fan of his earlier work, then An Other Cup is well worth adding to your music collection. It might not be as slick as his greatest hits album that came out in 2003, but the lyrics offer hope and optimism at a time when we are often faced with fear an uncertainty, making it good Sunday morning listening.
8/10
Anne Barber
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