Tell ’Em I’m Gone
Yusuf
(Sony Music Middle East)
Three stars
It has been five years since Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) released an album, the folky Roadsinger. For the follow-up, the bluesy Tell 'Em I'm Gone, he collaborated with the seminal producer Rick Rubin to release a solid album appealing to his old-school fan base. Four of the 10 tracks are covers, but the two stand-outs are originals. Editing Floor Blues tells of his frustration with the press when he was accused of supporting the fatwa on Salman Rushdie – an accusation he denied. The album finishes with the beautiful Doors, which is where we see the life of Stevens and Yusuf Islam come together – the way his life has closed only to open again years later.
cwhebell@thenational.ae
