YUSUF ISLAM'S NEW ALBUM: AN OTHER CUP (A REVIEW)
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A longtime lover of his music starting in the 1960's with "Matthew & Son", I have followed
Yusuf Islam's (formerly known as Cat Stevens and birth name Steven Demetre Georgiou) career, worked
for his former recording company, and felt a huge loss when he gave up music after
converting to Islam. Thankfully, he has now returned after a 28-year absence from the global music world with a new album, "An Other Cup."
Although I've never stopped replaying his older music because they resonated strongly with me,
I have to say it is wonderful hearing his present and slightly deeper voice with new songs.
I have always felt that Yusuf's music came from a romantic, spiritual and idealistic man with a longing to find truth and meaning to life. Songs such as "Sad Lisa", "O Caritas", "Wild World', "Where Do The Children Play", and "Peace Train" brought sensitive issues into the pop culture that were previously held secret or thought to be too heavy for music of its time. But I firmly believe that Yusuf's earlier music, with its fearless addresssing of important issues in heart-spoken lyrics and easily memorized melodies, helped pave the way for the peace and love movement of the 1960's and early 1970's. In 1968 Yusuf was struck down with tuberculosis from overwork. "Because I was close to death," he recalled, " I started to think more purposefully about the meaning of life and why we are here. That was the beginning of my search for something beyond, that eventually led me on a long journey to find out." Another one of the turning points in his life occured when he was swimming off the coast of Malibu in California. "I was in the ocean and suddenly I'd lost it, I had no power to swim any more," he remembered. "I was fighting the ocean and I had nobody with me. Yet I did have someone. I called out, 'God, if you save me I'll work for you'. A friendly wave swept me into the shore and from that arose within me a deep conviction and belief that there is a higher control over one's life." His brother gave him a copy of the Qur'an to read and Yusuf found Islam to be the path for himself. How did it feel for Yusuf to get back into his music? "When I picked up the guitar again it was like a floodgate," he says. "Ideas and melodies floated in without effort. The novelty of the whole process, searching for forgotten chords, inspired me; it made it feel the simple joy of being back as an amateur - with nothing much to lose."
Most of the eleven songs on "An Other Cup" were written in the past two years, and the album was co-produced by Yusuf and Rick Nowells (whose credits include working with Madonna, Rod Stewart, Dido and the Corrs) and with guitarist Alun Davis.
There are a couple of older songs on this album that have new orchestrations and interpretations, songs my generation will remember. Although the violin plucking intro on this song might throw one off at first, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (written by Benjamin/Marcus/Caldwell, recorded by the Animals in the 1960's) is now played in a slower tempo with a beautiful string arrangement, giving the song a richer, more complete meaning. One can imagine the many ways in which this song has become intensely personal and honest for him. The other "oldie" being his own song, "I Think I See the Light" from the 1970 "Mona Bone Jakon" album maintains much from the original version but it's jazzed it up a little more, making it lighter and more joyful. I still rock out to this one. "An Other Cup" reflects Yusuf's spiritual qualities and shares with us his own discoveries, revelations, and resolutions most powerfully in the songs "The End" ("you can't bargin with the truth"), and the autobiographical "Heaven/Where True Love Goes", which alludes to his Malibu swim, ("if a storm should come and you face a wave that may be the chance for you to be saved"). Those are my two favorite new songs on the CD. "Maybe There's A World' is his dreams of the best of all worlds perhaps yet to find. Yusuf's Muslim life is also embedded in some of his music. Oriental elements dominate in "Whispers from a Spiritual Garden" which includes a poem inspired by the 13th century Sufi mystic, Jalaluddin Rumi. "The Beloved" is a ballad with a combination of his older musical troubador style, hints of Celtic influence, with a religious theme (praising Muhammad) that I didn't particularly fancy. Nor was I much impressed with "One Day At A Time", one of his simplest and gentle melodies, played on acoustic guitar. "Midday (Avoid City After Dark)" might appear to be a bit of an odd inclusion in this CD, however we soon understand that the love of the day and fear of the night is symbolic for good and evil. "Greenfields, Golden Sands" reminds all of us of living in the moment, content with the most basic of needs and wants. "An Other Cup" is okay for a comeback album (a bit of a mixed bag), and will give diehard fans, as well as people of all ages not very familiar with his music, songs to enjoy and sing along with. I enjoy the deep bass tones, the energy that from Yusuf's voice. He has always managed to retain integrity and the innocent child within even as he's matured, and that's a rare and lovely quality. However, as a whole, this album lacks the better quality, originality, and freer spirit that is found in his older ones. The reason for Yusuf's return is stated by him, "The language of song is simply the best way to communicate the powerful winds of change which brought me to where I am today, and the love of peace still passing through my heart. I feel gifted to have that ability still within me. I never wanted to get involved in politics because that essentially separates people, whereas music has the power to unify, and is so much easier than for me than to give a lecture." At this he smiles knowingly. "You can argue with a philosopher, but you can't argue with a good song. And I think I've got a few good songs." And that's the truth. For more information about Yusuf Islam and his music, please go to his web site, and Buzztone. To read my previous article on Yusuf, please click here.
© Copyright 2007, Estelle Nora Harwit Amrani; CD, photos and bio information supplied by Buzztone.
NEWS
July 7, 2007: It sure is good seeing Yusuf/Cat performing again at the Live Earth Concert. He is back in his true element as a singer and performer with a message of peace and a healthy planet. He might not have the same vocal flexibility as he did years ago, but light and joy come shining through his face when he sings. He loves it. This is his true path and calling, and I'm so glad to see he has allowed it back into his life and to have him acknowledge it by saying he's been away for a long time, but it's good to be back, on earth, and on stage. Dang, wish he had sung more songs today. |
