With the return of Tricky the original Bristol trilogy of 1995 is complete once again – though in all honesty the Knowle West Boy occupies a completely different spot to Massive Attack and Portishead these days. ‘Knowle West Boy’ introduces some new vocalists, some of whom Tricky met on his time in the Bronx and LA, and it works really well with a complete lack of pretension. There is a massive variety of styles here too, as he moves from raw funk through to music heavily influenced by the Specials and even Kate Bush, along with a dark cover of Kylie Minogue’s ‘Slow’. While some of his music makes you look over your shoulder at a hidden menace, this is much more poppy stuff from Tricky, with a generous dash of humour added to the mix. Try it and be surprised…and you’ll be coming back for more.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood