Yusuf Islam’s first batch of new songs in nearly 30 years sounds astoundingly like an album from his ‘70s heyday. As Cat Stevens, he was always melodic and philosophical, characteristics in abundance here. Having been hauled off an aeroplane as a terrorist suspect, Islam needs no reminding of the fraught state of the world, and most of these songs are gentle pleas for tolerance, harmony and divine guidance. In “Maybe There‘s A World” he dreams of a peaceful Utopia without borders, while “Whispers From A Spiritual Garden” was inspired by a 13th century Sufi mystic. Can’t see the jihadists queuing up to download it, though .
By Adam Sweeting
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