Record of the day: Tricky, “Maxinequaye”

Tricky, “Maxinequaye” (Cd Island 314-524089-2)

Adrian Thaws earned the nickname Tricky Kid at a very young age, when at seventeen he collaborated with the musicians who would later form Massive Attack.

In fact his musical style, so rich in different stylistic overlaps (despite being part of the hip-hop tradition) and full of dark energies that rise menacingly above incessant rhythmic carpets of electronic drums and sampled sounds, demonstrates an unrivaled ability common in making full use of recording studio reserves. The influence of the Jamaican Dub style is very strong in Tricky’s records, who in turn has shaped this way of making music (using many echoes and sound effects in the mixing phase) to forge a personal style that starting from this first album “Maxinequaye” established him as one of the most innovative producers and musicians on the international scene.

The album takes its name from Tricky’s mother, who committed suicide when Adrian was only four years old, an event that would mark him for the rest of his life. The character of the music is therefore inspired by violent images with strong language, often enclosed in a dark pessimism, where Tricky’s voice moves indolent and sometimes acidic through landscapes saturated with electricity and distortion, vinyl scratching, dirty and swollen sounds hypnotic atmospheres (it is no coincidence that Tricky is an avid marijuana user), punctuated by relentless bass runs and a great use of sounds inspired by the 70s, not excluding the expressive use of noise.

In Tricky’s world the sun rarely appears, more than anything we find ourselves in a sound climate that is equivalent to the images of the film “Blade Runner”, and this constant anguish in the music (just listen to “Black Steel”, “Abbaon Fat Track”, ” Suffocated Love” and “Hell Is Round The Corner” to get an idea) will be even more accentuated in subsequent albums such as “Pre-Millennium Tensione Blowback” paradoxically creating, thanks to its anger and originality, a sound capable to give you a great energetic boost. Thanks to the success of the album Tricky was requested as a collaborator by curious artists who were equally free from traditional patterns like him, including Björk (on the album “Post”), Damon Albarn, Grace Jones, Alanis Morissette and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Carlo Boccadoro, composer and conductor, was born in Macerata in 1963. He lives and works in Milan. He collaborates with soloists and orchestras in different parts of the world. He is the author of numerous books on musical topics.

This text is taken from “Lunario della musica: A record for every day of the year” published by Einaudi, courtesy of the author and the publisher.