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Tricky

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What? It’s been five years since we’ve heard from Tricky, but his 2008 offering on Domino, Knowle West Boy, brings him right back where he belongs: laying down the late-night soundtrack for all that is seductive and sinister in the world. The record is rumored to be a moderately autobiographical account of his jagged, turbulent youth, but whatever his muse might’ve been for this collection, it’s clear to the trip-hoppin’ ear that Tricky’s as grimy as ever, offering up some intricately textured, slow churned electronica; the kind that seems to be best washed down with a shot of absinthe.

Who? Tricky became a household name in the mid-’90s as a member of Massive Attack and as a solo artist, paving the global path for a seemingly new genre that was already big in London’s urban underground: trip-hop. Fusing together equal parts soul, dub, American hip-hop, and down-tempo (for the most part) electronica, Tricky is known the world-over as a prominent producer having worked on numerous classic records, including Bjork’s Post, and influencing artists such as Portishead, DJ Shadow, and Trent Reznor. Catch Tricky on tour this fall, including stops in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Click here for complete dates.

Weird Fact: In 1997, Trickywas diagnosed with Candidus, an allergy to yeast that gives its “victims” symptoms that are frequently thought to be signs of schizophrenia.

Now Hear This: Tricky, “Past Mistake”(Feat. Lubna) (DOWNLOAD MP3)