The return of Yusuf, aka Cat Stevens
According to my humble (but difficult) ears, the songs of Cat Stevens are the best since the arrival of the music on earth. At the time of the many returns of artists of the 70s, I filed with fear An Other Cup in my platinum: What could the British singer propose after having spoiled us so much?
The author of My Lady of Arbanville and of Wild World yet managed to write us an extremely successful record. Always so melodic, his titles such Heaven / Where True Love Goes or Maybe There's a World we plunge back into the golden period of his Father And Son or Where Do The Children Play. But Yusuf does not look nostalgic, he asked many artists to participate in this album, such as Youssou N'Dour, who sings with him on The Beloved. The singer was also able to count on the valuable contest of Rick Nowels, producer among others of Dido and Texas.
The artist has fun, vogue on influences of world music, pop sounds that sound like his New York from the late 70s (I think I See The Light) and even offers arrangements that can recall the music Eastern. A rich record where Yusuf's voice has lost neither its sweetness nor its richness.
His conversion toIslam influences his words, very mystical, or the arrangement of many pieces, such Whispers from Spiritual Garden, which is more like a prayer. The artist sings God, a better world or love in all its forms. We feel calm and happy about this album. It's good, it makes us happy too.
Yusuf An Other Cup, Ya Records, Az, about 17 euros
Released November 13, 2006
