Category:
Electronic

Try if you like:
Massive Attack, Unkle

• Council Estate

It's been a while since UK native Tricky has released anything worthwhile. His latest album, Knowle West Boy (in reference to where he grew up) may have that all turned around. 

The album starts out with "Puppy Toy" which sounds a little like Lilly Allen, a different way to start off a Tricky LP. "Joseph" is quiet track that has that dark Tricky vibe that you've missed the last few albums. There is something so compelling about the delivery of "Veronika". It ends up being so hypnotic the way the mechanical beat drives the rhythm while the girl's furious voice holds your attention. He goes for some hard hitting tracks with hardly a track that goes beyond the 4 minute mark. For a killer example of hard hitting, try out "Council Estate", fast and dirty. The Portishead-like "Past Mistake" is quite charming and quite dark just the same. 

The dancefloor "shake yer booty" track, "Slow" really showcases a different sound for Tricky. It's big, catchy and infectious. We all know that Tricky has never been a singer but there are many times he takes the mic on this album and with the pleasing arrangements behind his monotonous drone it turns out for the positive. "Far Away" is one of these tracks. It has a lighthearted feel but enough darkness clouding the horizon to come off almost perfect. As well, on the closer "School Gates" he uses an acoustic guitar as well as a slide guitar for some totally different edginess. After a couple listens, "School Gates" ended up being my favorite. 

Knowle West Boy is a great return to form for Tricky. Obviously, not his finest moment but one of his finest.