Stick a fork in me, I'm done. I'll be leaving Ciao very soon to concentrate on the kids and the busi...
Stick a fork in me, I'm done. I'll be leaving Ciao very soon to concentrate on the kids and the business. I wish everyone the very best in life, I've loved it here and I'll miss you people xxx
Member since:16.05.2001
Reviews:74
Members who trust:30
...To paraphrase from 'Maxinquaye' (Tricky's mum was called Maxine Quaye) which is Tricky's first solo album after leaving Massive Attack. It's chill out music at it's most chilled, and is less experimental (Or downright freaky) than later albums and features the distinctive voice of Martine whatever-her-surname-is.
If you ask Tricky, it's not his finest hour and he'll say something very derogatory about it being like the Sneaker Pimps, but he sells himself short because it's a classic.
The track listing is as follows, and I'm no Catlain Moran so a brilliant description for every single song isn't happening, but I'll do me best to capture the magic.
1- 'Overcome' AKA 'Karmacoma'. The version here ambles along cleverly enough, but I prefer the Massive Attack version because it's fuller and more musical.
2- 'Ponderosa' begins with a gentle ice-cream van like sound that slides into subtle piano.
3- 'Black Steel', a cover of that by Public Enemy is more muted than the original, (Hip hop being more in yer face than trip hop) until Martine damn near blows a gasket towards the end. It's a trip hop/rock combo, she being an inspired choice to sing about being a black man not giving a damn about the government.
4- 'Hell is round the corner' is a beautiful, mellow affair with a clever choice of cords that gets you 'right there'. I'm all choked up...sniff
5- 'Pumpkin' Is light and breathy with Martine using her voice more traditionally on this track ie: singing sweetly, which makes it sound less unconventional than the rest of the album. "Mtv moves too fast, I refuse to understand".
6- 'Aftermath' is stark and spooky as tricky gently raps over Martine's singing, an occasional flute breaking up the reccurring bassline.
7- 'Abbaon fat tracks' It's trippy peacefullness defies it's lyrics of "With a quick speed I'll make your nose bleed".
8- 'Brand new you're retro' is a break from the mellow Compared to the rest, it's faster with both voices rapping quickly: "Bullet to the head... through the bars you'll see scars, results of my rage"
9- 'Suffocated love' Is the obligatory love song. Kind of. It's about one of those addictive relationships with great sex and high drama. "Is it love? No not love, she turns my sexual tricks" and "I think ahead of you, I think instead of you...she suffocates me"
10- 'You don't'
11- 'strugglin'
12- 'Feed me'
Tricky and Martine have now seperated because some 'Journalist' from 'The Face' said Tricky was holding her back. Tricky was once a sufferer of a food intolerance, which is why he was always completely off his head. If he eats sugar, he'll smack you, bread makes him paranoid and dairy makes him angry.
Inside the CD cover are a couple of pictures of Tricky in a wedding dress and Martine suited up (The one time Mr and Mrs of trip hop) which sums up the album brilliantly. Not as diverse as other Tricky albums, but quirky, stark and artistically wonderful.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I had forgotten about this album and was digging around trying to find it the other day. No joy, some bastard's nicked it! Serves me right for forgetting how good it is!
tom_knowles 17.07.2001 00:43
After listening to Portishead's 'Dummy' the other day (as well as rooting out all my Massive Attack CDs)... i have to say that i may just have to go and buy Maxinquaye. Although i have not really heard any of Tricky's stuff... the rest of the Bristol Trip-Hop (as well as your op) has spurred me to take another trip to HMV. Bloody hell...i can't walk past that place without buying something... and your op has just made my next trip even more painful on my wallet! Tom :-)
kingsanj 20.06.2001 21:42
Good op. This a cool album, Tricky is a nutter but a musical genius
Advantages: Cool CD cover, Hours of effortless Depression, Tricky's Voice Disadvantages: Can Reverse Effects of Prozac, Takes a Couple of Listens to Really Get Into, Can't Use the CD as Legal Tender in Korea
very helpful by (93%):
helpful by (7%):
![Ministry Of Sound Anthems (1991-2008) [Digipak] - Various Artists](http://imagesa.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/406/prod_small-6791406.jpg)
![Human After All [ECD] - Daft Punk](http://imagesa.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/538/prod_small-5833538.jpg)
![Gatecrasher's Club Anthems 1993-2009 [Digipak] - Various Artists](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/861/prod_small-7337861.jpg)
![You've Come A Long Way Baby [PA] - Fatboy Slim](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/051/prod_small-39051.jpg)
