|
Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
Review
If Mixed Race’s predecessor, 2008’s Knowle West Boy, was the album where Tricky came home, this is very much its sequel: what his creativity does now it’s back in its groove, rather than stuck in a rut.
For that reason, the familiar smoky, dusty beats and siren song vocals of opener Every Day could almost sound like an alarm bell – 2003’s Vulnerable had a similarly promising start, before unravelling – were it not at the same time soothing, reassuring and, most importantly, brief. Surging into the pacing, synth-infused, suffocating Kingston Logic and his lyrical admission that "It’s not a f****** love song" before jamming on the breaks for the slicing jazz trumpet hook of Early Bird creates a disorientating but consistent trio of opening songs.
Unsurprisingly, he’s retained his eye and ear for recruiting disparately impressive collaborators, so it’s the constant gear-shifting over a relatively short period – Mixed Race clocks in at just under half an hour in total, with only two songs topping three minutes – that gives the album its greatest charm. Ghetto Stars and Murder Weapon are unafraid to revisit the low, heavy riffing of his unfairly maligned 2001 ‘rock’ album, Blowback, while Hakim allows the Algerian guitarist it is named after to derail proceedings with its skittering Eastern melodies, Tricky happy to relocate to the background before gliding forward again on the loose, bluesy swagger of Come to Me that follows it.
On the couple of occasions where Mixed Race does appear to look back musically – such as the pulsating, low-tempo Time to Dance – it’s thankfully not a case of him coasting. Much as Knowle West Boy was rightly praised for him opening up and baring internationalist, musical soul rather than looking inward and dwelling on the vagaries of angst and neurosis, this latest chapter is another bold step. Mixed Race doesn’t last long, but it doesn’t waste its words or notes. Dense yet accessible, fleeting but full of memorable moments, Tricky’s done here what he always does at his best: let the listener share the soundtrack of his involving, nomadic, outsider spirit.
CD Description
Recorded in Paris, where Tricky has been residing for the past two years, Mixed Race is his most passionate album to date. Musically his production work takes influences from UK, Jamaican, US, North African and French music. He sets out on his music mantra with the album’s lead off track, “Every Day,” and then proceeds through a lyrical journey with temptation, reflection, mischief and misbehavior. The album was produced by Tricky and features as always an array of talented singers and collaborators. Mixed Race introduces Irish-Italian Frankey Riley, as well as guest appearances from Jamaican singer Terry Lynn, Primal Scream front man Bobby Gillespie, lutist/vocalist Hakim Hamadouche, London-based vocalist Blackman and Tricky’s brother Marlon Thaws, who is the thirteenth of his fourteen siblings.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Vinyl
Never boring is Tricky. Hard work - perhaps. But there is not one record that doesn't have something that screams perfection. Mixed Race is a collection of 10 short songs. Each one is a musical riff that leaves you wanting more. It's almost anti-Tricky which, in many ways, is very Tricky. On this record Tricky lurks in the background. But this short, sharp jab of a record is refreshing, honest and a great addition to an already great career. Oh, buy the single of Murder Weapon for a really good b-side.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This may be Tricky's most accessible album to date. To many of his fans, that might seem like a criticism - it's not. It's been a while since an album has knocked me over on the first listen - Mixed Race does that.
Many tracks retain the smoky, dark beats and dangerous, mumbling delivery that are Tricky's trademarks, but there are also faster-tempo and more funky tracks as well.
What took me a little by surprise was the efficiency of the album. You are straight into a song, then out and straight into the next. It is a finely crafted project and not prone to over-elaboration or self-satisfied riffs.
I don't think that Tricky has ever been concerned with anything other than making music that he loves. In the past, there have been times when his brooding introspection and paranoia could alienate listeners. Mixed Race is accessible and enjoyable. It is still edgy and dark. And it is a very fine album.
Many tracks retain the smoky, dark beats and dangerous, mumbling delivery that are Tricky's trademarks, but there are also faster-tempo and more funky tracks as well.
What took me a little by surprise was the efficiency of the album. You are straight into a song, then out and straight into the next. It is a finely crafted project and not prone to over-elaboration or self-satisfied riffs.
I don't think that Tricky has ever been concerned with anything other than making music that he loves. In the past, there have been times when his brooding introspection and paranoia could alienate listeners. Mixed Race is accessible and enjoyable. It is still edgy and dark. And it is a very fine album.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Fewer tracks running at sorter-then-usual times! I sincerely wish MORE artists would do this. Tricky, as well as pushing the envelope musically, has created a wonderfully concise album of memorable and richly diverse tracks. His efforts in making Mixed Race a snappier, less 'time consuming' record absolutely works a treat. Spot on. No fillers either (rare).
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Tricky, a true legend!
Tricky is an original he is a true master at what he does. This has been evident in the long and varied career that all that have listened to him have had the privilege to be a... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. AJ Harrison
again a disappointing studio album ......
I don't catch it: experiencing Tricky live is so enriching, thrilling, surprising, energizing.....and his studio albums are most of the time big let downs. Read more
Published 17 months ago by as
A national treasure
Why Tricky isn't considered a national treasure ala someone like Paul Weller, I'll never know. Mixed Race proves what a talent he is. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Montgomery Snapper
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
