Trip-hop veteran Tricky has stated that his latest album, False Idols, is all about getting back to his roots and recapturing what made him “who [he] was on the first album” [1995’s hugely successful Maxinquaye]. After Tricky’s most recent album, Mixed Race (2010), which was self-described as his most up-tempo work at that point in his career, False Idols very much marks a return to the brooding, darker sounds of his earlier work.
Minimal, electronic beats and droning synth/strings dominate the album, with Tricky’s deep, almost whispered rap delivery frequently taking a back seat to guest vocalists. ‘Valentine’, the thrid track and the first on which Tricky himself takes centre stage, is an eerie gem. Opening with a mournful sample of ‘My Funny Valentine’, which echoes over a sparse electronic beat, a rapid ticking in the background lends an unnerving tension to the track; Tricky’s trademark vocal delivery style resonates strongly over the minimalist hum of the backing, making this one of the real highlights of False Idols.
Tricky’s vocal style may be familiar, but False Idols traverses a variety of diverse musical styles. On ‘Parenthesis’, distorted guitar licks contrast with the muted falsetto of guest vocalist Peter Silberman; an 80s-influenced Goth-style synthesised bass drives the track along, punctuated by a snappy electronic snare. ‘If Only I Knew’ changes the pace entirely, bringing a cool R&B groove into the mix. ‘Chinese Interlude’ breaks from the electronic aesthetic of the rest of False Idols, showcasing sweet female vocals over warm acoustic guitar. Powerful closing track ‘Passion of the Christ’ evokes a Middle-Eastern sound, complemented by a syncopated electronic beat and a metallic droning synth that underscores a forceful vocal delivery from Tricky.
Fans of Tricky and the trip-hop scene from which he emerged in the 90s will love False Idols, which showcases a veteran at the top of his game. For newer fans, anyone who has enjoyed Thom Yorke’s solo work, and more recently Atoms for Peace, or British indie band the xx, should enjoy checking out one of the pioneers of that dark, electronic and contemplative sound.
7/10
Reviewer: Frances Bulley