Album Review: Tea for the Tillerman 2 by Yusuf

For the most part, these reinventions work, with the possible exception of the reggae "Longer Boats." But two versions prove the album's best, and for completely different reasons. "Wild World," which is perhaps Yusuf/Stevens' best known song, is completely reconfigured here, almost unrecognizable but for those unmistakable lyrics, into a haunting world music-esque jaunt, with slinky oboe interludes. Somehow Yusuf/Stevens succeeds in making his best known song completely new, and it works.

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Harkening back to his early days - accompanied by original guitarist Alun Davies and producer Paul Samwell-Smith - Yusuf brings in a cheeky mood that works to endear and attract younger generations of music lovers. Symbolic of the evolved project is the reworked version "Father And Son," with modern-day Yusuf singing the father's vocals while those of the son are drawn from the 1970s live recording. Further extending his own evolution on this updated version of his breakthrough record, the multi-instrumentalist works his magic in a way that keeps his signature cross-genre sound remaining impressively recognizable while still allowing for key creative reinventions to the soundscape.

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