Yusuf/Cat Stevens has released “On The Road To Find Out,” newly recorded and reimagined for the upcoming Tea for the Tillerman album release, due September 18th via UMe in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the era-defining, multi-platinum selling album.
Inspired by a journey of self-discovery and personal transformation, the new arrangement presents a deeper reflective tone and stark contrast to the original acoustic-folk 1970 recording. As a hypnotic groove unfolds, Yusuf explores R&B’s African desert influences, as soulful guitar riffs and Hammond organ drive like a rambling caravan across an expansive, wide open sonic landscape.
Yusuf delivers a rich and gritty lead vocal in a lower register than some fans may be used to. His lyrics seem to carry more weight through the wisdom and worldly experience Yusuf has acquired since he began his metaphysical journey.
“On The Road To Find Out” was written following the battle with TB and lengthy recovery period that wiped out most of 1968 and ’69 for Cat Stevens on a public and professional level. Privately, however, he had experimented with meditation and techniques of personal reflection through that period of spiritual evolution. The literature he was reading – most notably “The Secret Path” by Paul Brunton – sparked a passion for widening his range of learning.
Alongside his inner-conscience development, Cat’s transformation led to reshaping his musical direction which revealed itself in the stripped-down acoustic sound of his next two groundbreaking albums: Mona Bone Jakon and Tea for the Tillerman.
A striking visual collaboration between Yusuf and directors Kimberly Stuckwisch (Billie Eilish, Thundercat, MØ) and Melora Donoghue of Invisible Inc. has also been released.
The video for “On The Road To Find Out” is an allegory for humanity’s journey of self-discovery and the historical events, art, and music that have influenced life and culture. Stylistically, we are reminded of sci-fi classics such as “Star Wars,” “Dune” and even “Mad Max” with an added touch of magic realism. Our protagonist struggles to pull a boulder-like mass of artifacts that represent his ties to the material world through a desert landscape. The mass keeps growing until he discovers a small symbol of life in the wilderness – he is then able to discard the shackles of materialism and walk with his soul free and unburdened.
The new release of “On The Road To Find Out” offers a second glimpse into the reimagined Tea for the Tillerman², following “Where Do The Children Play?” – immortalized in a powerful new stop motion animated music video created by Chris Hopewell and Black Dog Films.
Originally intended as a celebratory token to mark the album’s 50th anniversary, the response to Yusuf’s Tea for the Tillerman² has been overwhelmingly welcoming. The idea of reimagining and rerecording the songs grew out of a discussion Yusuf had with his son, Yoriyos. The result speaks for itself. Paul Samwell-Smith was contacted and a week was booked at La Fabrique Studios in the South of France in the Summer of 2019, close to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence where Van Gogh painted some of his most famous works.
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Photo Credit: KRIACHKO OLEKSII / Shutterstock.com