“Calling it Adrian Thaws is saying you don’t really know me,” says Tricky, explaining the title of his 11th album. “So many times people have tried to put a finger on me and every album I go to a different place.” It’s typical of one of music’s most unpredictable characters that the first album to bear his birth name is one of his least introspective. Adrian Thaws is a vivid, attention-grabbing set of songs which roam from hip hop to house, jazz to blues, rock to reggae. It was recorded in Tricky’s home studio in London, where he’s living again after almost two decades in New York, Los Angeles and Paris, and features an international crew of collaborators: Francesca Belmonte, Nneka, Mykki Blanco, Bella Gotti, Tirzah, Blue Daisy and Oh Land. It’s designed to be played loud. “I suppose this is my club/hip hop album,”he says. “I’ve only heard my music a few times in a club but I grew up in clubs from when I was 14: blues parties, hip hop clubs, a few raves. I’m not known for doing club music but this album has some club tracks on it — well, what I would consider club music.” Tricky makes complicated music because Adrian Thaws has had a complicated life. Born in 1968, he grew up in an extended family that was both black and white, urban and rural, containing strong women and volatile men. His choice of cover versions is revealing. Janet Kaye’s 1979 lovers rock classic Silly Games reminds him of his childhood in Bristol’s Knowle West district. London Posse’s 1990 track Gangster Chronicle harks back to his musical apprenticeship with the Wild Bunch and Massive Attack under the name Tricky Kid before he launched his solo career with 1995’s startling Maxinquaye.
Adrian Thaws is Tricky’s second release on his own False Idols label via !K7, hard on the heels of his 2013 album, also called False Idols. One thing that makes Adrian Thaws such a gripping, commanding album is the prominence of Tricky’s own vocals but, as always, he’s brought company. Returning from False Idols is Irish-Italian singer Francesca Belmonte, who sings on Lonnie Listen, Something in the Way, I Had a Dream and new single Nicotine Love. There are new faces too. British grime MC Bella Gotti (formerly known as Nolay) is a dynamically belligerent presence on the two-fisted hip hop tracks Gangster Chronicle and Why Don’t You. “Her style is so aggressive,” says Tricky. “There’s nothing worse than weak hip hop. If I’m going to do it I want it to be intense.” American MC Mykki Blanco, who joins Francesca on Lonnie Listen’s android hip hop, impressed Tricky when he supported him at a show in Germany. “I saw this dude in a mini-skirt and high heels and he was so aggressive on stage. Some of the crowd were like what the fuck? Imagine a big dude with a woman’s rage — that’s someone who can do some serious damage.”
London singer Tirzah, who performs Silly Games and ominous opening track Sun Down with hints of Martina’s deadpan cool, was introduced to Tricky by his daughter Mazy. Danish singer-songwriter Oh Land duets with Tricky on Right Here’s rumbling synth-pop. British electronic musician Blue Daisy, who co-wrote and remixed My Palestine Girl, was another tour bus discovery.
“Music is easy,” he says with a husky laugh. “You’ve just got to be honest with yourself.”
Recently Tricky released 2 brand new tracks and a French version of Nicotine Love as a free download. Indo-french vocalist AJEYA features on all tracks and supports on all dates included Prague. Download for free HERE.
Support: Strangers in the City
Line-up:
18:30 doors open
19:00 Strangers in the City
20:00 Tricky
21:30 end
