{Originally published in UR Chicago Magazine, September 2008}
Tricky
Knowle West Boy
Domino, September 9
Rating: 3.0/5.0
In 1997, still reeling from the acclaim of his seminal debut, Tricky performed on a pitch-black stage, the only source of light coming from the burning ember of the enormous blunt securely wedged between two fingers, barely illuminating his face. The ambiance was appropriate for the weed smoke-soaked blues that came to be known as trip-hop, and later translated into grime. Eleven years later, Tricky is still trying to reach the bar he set so high with Maxinquaye. His latest release, Knowle West Boy, is replete with intimate tales (“Past Mistake”) and misplaced nostalgia (“School Gates”) over an amalgamation of dancehall reggae (which bores), electro punk (which fails), and saturated beats (which remind why he’s still relevant). As always, it’s on those tracks – when Tricky inhabits the dark, smoke-filled corridors – he truly shines brightest.
-Jason Horine
