Yusuf Islam sure looks to be making up for lost time. Just weeks after he unveiled a series of singles in support of Gaza, the musician formerly known as Cat Stevens has announced plans for a brand new studio album, his second full-length release in the last three years.
Entitled Roadsinger (To Warm You Through The Night) and due for release on May 5th, the followup to 2006’s critically acclaimed An Other Cup, an album which marked his first studio release in over 28 years, will look to continue Islam’s recent emergence back into music life. However, this time around, the 60-year-old musician looks to be echoing back to old styles and sounds.
I was absent from my audience for so long…people thought another album would never come. The 2006 album, An Other Cup, was a surprise. With this new album, the distance is much less. I’m back to doing what I do best — painting pictures with music and storytelling on a very human, personal, intuitive level through lyrics and song, so I can help people feel good again. I guess in some ways the new album picks up where the Cat Stevens the public knows left off.”
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In doing so, Islam dusted off the guitar – the album is said to be much more folk-oriented – and recorded all but one of the tracks live. He also tapped a slew of high-profile guests, including James Morrison, Michelle Branch, and Holly Williams, the granddaughter of Hank Williams, Sr.
No word on whether Islam will tour in support of the upcoming release, but he is currently set to appear at “Island Life,” where he’ll be joining the likes Amy Winehouse, Paul Weller, and The Fratellis in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Island Records.