Customer Reviews

Mixed Race

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Tricky has been one of my favorite artists since "Pre-Millenium Tension," and he's one of the few who I still pick up the CD as soon as I know it's being released. While the past few albums have been weaker in comparison to his early work, the strength of that early work has held my faith through thick and thin.

"Mixed Race" shows that faith rewarded. I'd easily say this is his strongest album since "Blowback," and would hold its own with "Juxtapose" or "Angels With Dirty Faces." Tricky has found a way to return to the blended trip-hop/hip-hop/rock sound that defined his early work, yet he's done it in a way that still sounds as fresh as he did when he first arrived on the scene - this is no case of an artist retracing his steps in an attempt to regain former glory, but rather an artist looking back while moving forward. In a way this sounds almost like a roots album for Tricky - the musical influences and references are clear, and encompass the range from Daft Punk to "Peter Gunn." It's instantly familiar and recognizable, but completely new at the same time.

With 10 tracks on the album, I was a little surprised when it clocked in at under 30 minutes; but the quality doesn't suffer a bit. The whole album flows nicely, and it benefits from being a tight, cohesive album, rather than a disjointed collection of what he's been doing since "Knowle West Boy." I hope this is a new beginning for Tricky; he's back to what made me love his music so much in the first place.

UK Trip Hop artist Tricky's new CD "Mixed Race" is a musical journey of sorts as the 10 tracks take one through various styles; Hip Hop, Blues, Dub, Trip Hop and Dance.

"Every Day" features Frank Riley and is a dreamy Dub/Country hybrid with harmonica, "(Riley appears again on the clap-driven Bluesy "Come To Me" and "Murder Weapon" which starts off with a music box chiming the notes of "My Way"), Hakim" has a haunting Middle Eastern feel and features the vocals of Algerian singer Hakim Hamadouche against a sitar backdrop, while "Bristol to London" is electro with rapping by Tricky's brother Marlon Thaws and Blackman.

"Kingston Logic" features Terry Lynn and is groovy with great guitars. while the atmospheric "Ghetto Stars" finds Frank Riley singing in a delicate upper register against a Trip Hop backdrop. The very brief "Time To Dance" is sublime Disco, and the eerie "Really Real" features a whispered performance Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie (reminiscent of "Past Mistake" from "Knowle West Boy").

The songs are brief and the album runs just about 30 minutes. Like they say, time flies when you're having fun, and fun this is!

Not his best effort, and at 29 minutes, amazingly short. The overall production sounds "cheap," especially compared to the amazing Blowback. The drum programming is too simple on half the songs, as if Tricky was a bit lazy. Some of the stuff just doesn't sound fully realized. And basing a song on the Peter Gunn riff has been done to death.

But, that said, there's enough good stuff here to recommend it. I would also recommend "No Prisoners" by Gaudi for those who dig this type of stuff.

Tricky - Mixed Race (2010)

On MIXED RACE, Tricky continues with the genre experiments from his previous release KNOWLE WEST BOY. While KNOWLE WEST BOY is eclectic, innovative and largely satisfying, MIXED RACE attempts something similar with diminishing returns. It's not a bad album but it's not very impressive either. I prefer VULNERABLE (the one before KNOWLE WEST BOY) over these two most recent releases because it has more of the classic trip-hop sound which I favor (and yes, I know Tricky doesn't like that label but I do!), but even that one isn't nearly as good as most of the albums from his 90s heyday. His 1995 debut, MAXINQUAYE, remains his masterpiece and that is definitely the one to start with if you're new to Tricky.

MIXED RACE is less than 30 minutes in length which many fans no doubt find less than satisfying. But it's very listener friendly. So friendly in fact that it's not particularly innovative or even very interesting. Most of the songs themselves are really too short and could've been developed much further, but on the plus side the weaker tracks don't wear out their welcome. Front to back it's not a bad listen at all.

Breakdown:

"Every Day" - a laid-back tune sporting a strong melody featuring airy female vocals. Tricky softly harmonizes with his raspy voice as he often does. The song has a quasi-raggae feel with a bluesy guitar and a plodding chain-gang beat. Additional sonic touches include harmonica, tamborine and actual chains towards the end. ***3/4

"UK Jamaican" - is the best track on the album, a funky, upbeat groove featuring a female rapper who helps propel the rhythm along with some great bass and funk guitar. Drums kick up a notch at the chorus and the beat morphs in other cool ways too. The subject matter is typical money and guns, sounding like some kind of motivational piece for gangstas. Too bad it's only 2:40 in length. For that I rate it - > ****

"Early Bird" - has jazzy drums and trumpet. I like the sound but the vocals are too "sing-songy" and I find them rather irritating. Maybe it's just a question of taste. Another song about gangsta hustlin. In fact, most of these songs seem to concern this topic. ***

"Ghetto Stars" - This one moves more into the sexy, sensual trip-hop territory that Tricky's so good at. Tricky fans will find this style to be quite familiar and here it's fairly mesmerizing. Many people no doubt find the intermittent sound of a cocking gun to be a little tired though. ****

"Hakim" - has a distinct North African feel with African instruments and a male vocalist singing in an African-sounding language (which I'm not familiar with). Also sports a bass-heavy beat. Tricky has taken similar approaches before by utilizing elements from foreign cultures yet this song sounds really unique. Excellent! *****

"Come To Me" - begins with a female vocal that sounds like she's singing the melody of "Girl From Ipanema" on a cheap tape recorder. This one has an old-school lounge jazz feel with a gently pumping organ, trumpet and sax touches along with some cool reverbed guitar accents. ***3/4

"Murder Weapon" - builds a song around the overused and tired "Peter Gunn Theme" by Henry Mancini. If you haven't gotten completely worn out by it (as I have), you might appreciate what Tricky has done with it because the song itself is actually pretty good. It's just that this riff has been done to death and the sound of yet another cocking pistol just underscores the dearth of inspiration here. ***

"Time To Dance" - four on the floor synth pop, subdued with a quiet beat and various keyboard touches - spooky washes, sparkling accents and stuttering Human League-style synths. I like it, but once again we hear a track that's frustratingly short and underdeveloped. ***1/2

"Really Real" - is another low-key track. It has a simmering intensity with droning synths and a decent if overly repetitive vocal. Nothing special. ***

"Bristol To London" - This is the most upbeat track after "UK Jamaican" although it's not really that energetic. It begins with some guy speaking with a Jamaican patois before launching into a solid beat driven by a wobbly synth line and rap vocals. Various sonic touches are added, more trumpet accents and the sound of a car peeling out. Yet another track that abruptly ends before it has a chance to go anywhere. ***

itunes and Japanese bonus track -

"Friend Went To Jail" - Why do the Japanese always get the extra goodies? I've never figured that out... This is a very nice track, driven by an acoustic guitar, no beat, just Tricky and another female vocalist (can't keep track of them all!). Nice jazz trumpet too. Like all the other songs this one's too short (only 2:13 minutes). It's good but if your CD doesn't have it, not to worry you're not really missing anything special. ****

It's great to hear Tricky back in action. I love the sound, but I just wanted potential purchasers to be aware that the total length of the album is less than 30 minutes. It sounds great, and stops way too soon. This should be priced as an EP or a maxi-single, not an album.

this album is massive! a little more mature than tricky's usual fare, but, without going too far from the the main stream (as tricky is prone to do). check out "UK jamaican" and "Come to me" as samplings. the only issue i have with this album is that all the tracks are short and leave me wanting more.

First off, I am not at all familiar with other works from this artist so I may not understand the mystique. I was looking for something different so I took a chance on this CD based on reviews and Amazon suggestions. I've played this album through 3 times but have found very little to praise.

Most of the beats are a blues-like shuffle, I presume a drum machine (which another reviewer accurately states as simple, and cheapens the music). The album never sets me in a blues-like mood, however. Conversely, there is not much upbeat here either. The vocals are either monotone or repetitive -- tantric would be too generous.

For me, the high point would be 'Hakim' if only for introducing eastern vocals into western music. The low point must be 'Early Bird', which I found banal.