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Rating: - Hi Marco, what are you listening to?
- I'm listening to "Maxinquaye" for the umpteenth time.
- Max... what?!??"
- Understandable, anyway it's Tricky's first album!
- And who is Tricky? You're always into these unknown musicians...
- How can they be unknown? This is an artist who has stirred the waters in the international music scene for a while by proposing something truly original and unclassifiable. In my iPod under the "genre" label, I've imported it as Tricky because his music can't be classified.
- Bohh... it still doesn't ring a bell?!
- Maybe if I tell you that one of his songs "Hell Is Round The Corner" was used for the Superga commercial a long time ago, it might help. Here, listen to it...
- Ah, it's true, now I remember.
But how is it possible that even today many people don't know Tricky? Maybe it's the people I hang out with who are musically ignorant, but I don't think so because some of them know who he is, and besides, "Maxinquaye" was dubbed on cassette for me back in the day by a friend. Later I had to buy the CD because the tape got ruined from too much listening, and let's be honest, also because the artwork is too cool: with him dressed as a bride and Martina as a groom. A must-have. It's also true that Tricky never sought fame, or rather, he never sold out because he always did what he felt like doing, which is things not entirely accessible to the mass audience. On the contrary, when he signed with a Major (Island), he dedicated himself to riskier projects while now that he's with an indie-label (Anti-Epitaph) he's more upbeat than ever.
More alternative than this? Perhaps the only explanation for why he's not well known lies in Tricky's very essence, which is that he's not mainstream.
It starts with "Overcome" which is a dig at Massive's "Karmacoma"; in this opening track, clearly superior and more intense than the beautiful song from "Protection", Tricky's dark and dreamy soul makes itself felt, leaving behind the rap cadence of the lyrics to hand them over to the debut Jazz singer Martina Topley-Bird. You wouldn't want to compare Del Naja's interpretation with Martina's, would you? An excellent start for a radical Trip-Hop. The second track is the oriental-tinged "Ponderosa" produced by Howie B, which is a must for the trendiest productions of the period, while in the devilish "Hell Is Round The Corner", "Ike's Rap II" by Isaac Hayes is sampled (a choice also made by Portishead). Martina's childlike voice is the "light shadow" of Tricky's hoarse one or vice versa, and in the end, it creates this game of personality splitting represented precisely by the double voice. The only cover is "Black Steel" by Public Enemy, made possible with the help of the metal band FTV and is among the most famous and favorite tracks for his fans. The vocals don't only feature Martina's childlike voice: in the haunting "Pumpkin", for instance, there's Alison Goldfrapp who gets under your skin like even Topley-Bird couldn't, and above all, it doesn't make us miss the sampled "Suffer", in fact, it ennobles it. In "You Don't", there's a duet with the powerful Ragga, which turns out to be the best choice because Martina better interprets darker, more paranoid and seductive songs like "Aftermath" (first single), "Suffocated Love", and "Abbaon Fat Track". The latter is the most beautiful track on the album where a dialogue part from the movie "The Rapture" is sampled ("Can you fly? You fly as fast as you can to Baby Jesus") and where he lashes out at the music industry, ridiculing it, as he does in the satirical "Brand New You're Retro".
The music is truly hypnotic, disorienting, and sick; you don't know how he could create something like this, and in my opinion, not even he knew what he wanted to achieve because today he wouldn't be able to make the same song in that way. But the whole album is like this, naive and intense and most of all unique even when compared to other Tricky albums, let alone when compared to other records. Go and get it immediately, even though I envy those who have never listened to it because discovering it has a different taste than having it in the player for many years, although sometimes I still find something new and it continues to move me. Anesthetizing.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Overcome (04:30)
Martina:
You sure you want to be with me?
I've nothing to give
Won't lie and say this loving's best
Whoa, leave us in emotional peace
Mmm, take a walk take a rest, and taste the rest
Don't wanna be on top of your list,
Monopoly improperly kissed
We overcome in sixty seconds with the strength we have together
But for now, emotional ties they stay severed
And when there's trust there'll be treats
When we funk we'll hear beats
Karmacoma (x7)
You and her, walking through the suburbs
No, not exactly lovers
You're a couple, 'specially when your bodies double
Duplicate and then you wait
For the next Kuwait
Karmacoma (x6)
Jamaican aroma, karmacoma
You sure you want to be with me?
I've nothing to give
Won't lie and say this loving's best
Whoa, leave us in emotional peace
Mmm, take a walk take a rest, and taste the rest
Don't wanna be on top of your list,
Monopoly improperly kissed
We overcome in sixty seconds with the strength we have together
But for now, emotional ties they stay severed
And when there's trust there'll be treats
When we funk we'll hear beats
Karmacoma (x7)
Karmacoma (x7)
02 Ponderosa (03:30)
Martina :
The place where... X6
Tricky:
...Where I stand
Martina:
The place where I stand gives way to liquid lino
Underneath the weeping willow lies a weeping wino
The place where I stand gives way to liquid lino
Underneath the weeping willow lies a weeping wino
Tricky:
Uhh...
Martina:
The mind's a crowd-
Martina and Tricky:
Search for the spaces
Martina:
Turn around time's gone-
Martina and Tricky:
I take ten paces.
Martina:
Been up ahead -
Martina and Tricky:
Can't make heads or tails of it
Martina:
I drink till I'm drunk-
Martina and Tricky:
And I smoke till I'm senseless.
Martina:
See in black and white
Martina and Tricky:
Feel in slow motion
Martina:
I drown myself in sorrow
Martina and Tricky:
Until I wake up tomorrow.
The illusion of confusion
Martina:
It's not from where I am sat
Tricky :
Recircle recycle resemble me
Martina :
Different levels of the devil's company
Tricky:
Yeah x3
Martina:
They lead us outside-
Martina and Tricky:
Take us out quietly
Martina:
To the cage through the bars-
You see scars-- results of my rage
Martina:
The place where I stand gives way to liquid lino
(gives way to)
Underneath the weeping willow lies a weeping whino
(underneath the...there lies a weeping)
The place where I stand gives way to liquid lino
(the place where...gives...liquid)
Underneath the weeping willow lies a weeping whino
(underneath the...there lies a weeping)
The mind's a crowd, search for the spaces
(the illusion of confusion...search for...)
Turn around time's gone, I take ten paces.
(turn around...gone, i take ten paces)
Been up ahead - can't make heads or tails of it
(can't make heads or tails of it)
I drink 'til I'm drunk, and I smoke 'til I'm senseless.
(I smoke, I smoke, I smoke)
You see in black and white, feel in slow motion,
(feel in slow slow motion, and drown drown myself in sorrow)
Drown myself in sorrow, until I wake up tomorrow
(till i wake up tomorrow, the illusion of, the illusion of)
I drown myself in sorrow, until I wake up tomorrow
(the illusion of, the illusion of)
I drown myself in, I drown myself in
(the illusion of...until I, until I wake up tomorrow)
The illusion of confusion is not from where I am sat
(it's not from where I'm...circle)
03 Black Steel (05:40)
I got a letter from the government
The other day
I Opened and read it
It said they were suckers
They wanted me for the army or whatever
Picture me given' a damn -- I said never
Here is a land that never gave a damn
About a brother like me and myself
Because they never did
I wasn't wit' it, but just that very minute...
It occured to me
The suckers had authority
Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell
How long has it been?
They got me sittin' in the state pen
I gotta get out -- but that thought was thought before
I contemplated a plan on the cell floor
I'm not a fugitive on the run
But a brother like me begun -- to be another one
Public enemy servin' time -- they drew the line y'all
To criticize me for some crime -- never the less
They could not understand that I'm a Black man
And I could never be a veteran
On the strength, the situation's unreal
I got a raw deal, now I'm lookin for the steel
(Tricky: Many switch in, switch on, switch off (x5))
Nevertheless they cannot understand
That I'm a black man, and I could never be a veteran.
On the strength of situations, I'm real.
I got a raw deal, so I'm lookin' for the steel
Lookin for the steel.
06 Aftermath (07:38)
Martina :
The world revolves for,for someone
For him, for she
The world revolves for, for someone
For him for me
Martina & Tricky :
Your eyes resemble mine, you see as no others can
Here inherit my kingdom, speak of our people's plan
I'll be here for my baby, for my baby I'll be near
So many things I need to tell you, things you need to hear
Martina :
So this is the aftermath
Tricky :
Your eyes resemble mine, you see as no others can
Here inherit my kingdom, speak of our people's plan
I'll be here for my baby, for my baby I'll be near
So many things I need to tell you
Martina :
The world revolves for,for someone
For him, for she
The world revolves for, for someone
For him for me
'Let me tell you about my mother' ( From the film, Bladerunner )
Martina :
The world revolves for,for someone
For him, for she
The world revolves for, for someone
For him for me
Tricky & Martina :
Your eyes resemble mine, you see as no others can
Here inherit my kingdom, speak of our people's plan
I'll be here for my baby, for my baby I'll be near
So many things I need to tell you, things you need to hear
How can I be sure
In a world that's constantly changing
How can I be sure
In a world that's constantly changing
How can, how can I be sure
( Backward vocals )
Just when I thought I was winning
Just when I thought I could not be stopped
Just when I thought I was winning
Just when I thought I could not be stopped
How can I be sure?
07 Abbaon Fat Tracks (04:26)
fuck you in,
tuck you in,
suck you in
"then you fly,
fly as fast as you can to baby jesus"
(sample from film "the rapture")
I am she,
mistakes of men,
Gritty teeth,
fists all clenched,
Breast stroke,
lots of touching,
See you in the sauna
There'll be big fun up at my
Hotel, motel, hotel, motel
I fuck you in the ass,
just for a laugh,
With the quick speed,
I'll make your nose bleed,
I ride the pre-menstrual cycle,
Forget about Michael,
Now here's the big blast,
I like the big catch,
I'll spray you straight through,
I spray your daydreams
Enjoy myself,
within myself,
And back again, encouraging sin,
a powerful mind,
Devious mind for a devious kind,
Ugly noises and strange ways by the two praise
I roll up the blue bills,
I snort the cheap thrills
08 Brand New You're Retro (02:54)
Tricky:
We know, yes we know
It's my ego on fantastic
But still, you're fuckin' with my plastic
Dedicated, medicated,
They bend and break me
Overrate me
I take a small piece and make it breathe
It takes a second to wreck it sucka niggas won't believe
They stress me, test me, vex me
So what, you got a gun?
That shit don't impress me
Yes yes you always walks with the crew
You're a motherfucker 'cause you're not alone
If you don't think I'm a brother, then check my chromosome
Brand new, you're retro
I already passed you on a one-two
I've been cued to this already
Bullet to the head
Bullet to the head, what you know I's joking?
What the fuck you doin'?
You gonna represent my intention?
You need more than a mic and a mention
Through the scars you see bars
Through the bars you see scars results of my rage
Brand new, you're retro (x3)
Martina:
Scared to skip and step in case you trip and fall
Thunder picks you up, slaps you on the wall
That's maniacal, I cuff through my manocle
Mechanical and super-natty
Love is not talk, I walk on by
Exotic spices
If your mouth can't tame the meaning
Be careful of the faces you're seeing
A dread of the past and fear of the future
That's maniacal, I cuff through my manocle
Mechanical and super-natty
Tricky:
Brand new, you're retro (x3)
Brand new, you're retro (x3)
Bullet to the head, what you know I's joking?
What the fuck you doin'?
You'll never represent my intention
You need more than a mic and a mention
Through the scars you see bars
Through the bars you see scars results of my rage
Brand new, you're retro (x3)
Brand new, you're retro (x3)
Brand new, you're retro (x3)
Brand new, you're retro (x3)
11 Strugglin' (06:38)
Tricky:
Because, in, in hell I'll be lost in the layers of weakness
All around the surface brainwashed with the cheapest
Strugglin...strugglin...strugglin
Brainwashed with the
Hallucinagenics in my system
I cock the trigger
Many switch in
Switch on, switch off
Martina & Tricky:
Here I'm lost (I'm lost)
In the layers of weakness (Brainwashed)
All around the surface brainwashed with the cheapest
Exhausted by the mundane
Simplicity no longer plain
(Strugglin, strugglin)
Strugglin, strugglin with the insane
Tricky:
I'm strugglin
I'm strugglin with the insane
...
Hallucinagenics in my system
...
They say I'm insane
I'm strugglin, strugglin
Martina & Tricky:
Darkness and warmth
Obvious and mysterious
Magical colors
(Mystical shadows)
Mystical shadows
Thought with no meaning
(They say I'm insane)
Label me insane
But I'm more normal than most
Strugglin so hard
(I just need to remain)
('Cause I'm strugglin)
To remain
(I know I'm the truth)
'Cause we are the truth
See what we want to see
(Please, please tell me, tell me what i want to hear)
Hear what we want to hear
Strugglin so hard
(I'm strugglin)
I took a ride, yeah
(Roll with the bullets to survive... to survive... to survive)
(Self preservation)
Roll with the bullets
Just to survive
(Self preservation)
Self preservation
(Keeps the crowd alive)
Keeps the crowd alive
Tricky:
Strugglin... strugglin
They... they say I'm insane
I'm strugglin... strugglin
They say I'm insane
Martina & Tricky:
Strugglin
(I'm more normal than most)
Strugglin
(I'm just strugglin)
Strugglin
(Mythical shadows)
Strugglin
(Mysterious...the obvious)
Strugglin
(They say im insane...I'm strugglin)
Strugglin
Tricky:
Switch in, switch on, switch off
I'm lost in contradiction
Feed me my visuals
A flashback... a flashback from way back
I'm strugglin... strugglin
Do you know what its like to struggle?
Do you...do you...have you...have you ever had to struggle?
Strugglin...strugglin
Roll with the bullets to survive
Strugglin...strugglin...strugglin to remain
They label me insane
But i'm...i'm...i think i'm more normal than most
Strugglin with the remains
Brainwashed with the cheapest
And if pain makes me stronger
Then how am i stronger?
There's a fate for the late
But the late must wait longer
Strugglin...strugglin
Roll with the bullets to survive
Self preservation keeps the crowd alive
Strugglin
In hell I'll be lost in the layers of weakness
All around the surface brainwashed with the cheapest
In hell I'll be lost in the layers of weakness
All around the surface brainwashed with the cheapest
Exhausted with the mundane
Simplicity means no longer plain
Strugglin with the insane
Darkness and warmth
The obvious and mysterious
Magical colors, mythical shadows
Half thought with no meaning
They label me insane (x3)
12 Feed Me (04:03)
Tricky:
Hey you, so whatcha gonna do
Unbearable, searable, popular demand
From cradle to grave, the simple diary of man
Unbearable, searable, popular demand
Unbearable, searable, popular demand
From cradle to grave, the simple diary of man
Unbearable, searable, popular demand
Martina:
How things are together we'll destroy
And then we can destroy what we are
Together we can build what we are when we dream the spirit free
We don't give praise, we take praise
So why are we?
Tricky:
Unbearable, searable, popular demand
From cradle to grave, the simple diary of man
Martina:
How things are together we'll destroy
And then we can destroy what we are
Together we can build what we are when we dream the spirit free
We don't give praise, we take praise
So why are we?
Tricky:
Unbearable, searable, popular demand
From cradle to grave, this simple diary of man
Unbearable, searable, popular demand
Martina:
Feed me when I'm hungry
Drink me 'till I'm dry
The dream of yesterday becomes another lie
You feed me lies, distortion, the English disaster
No one's free from love for one master
Tricky:
Unbearable searable popular demand
From cradle to grave, the simple diary of man
Martina:
We found a new place to live where we're taught to grow strong
And strongly sensitive, it always sets the scenery
Colors leave only beauty, words and wine amongst the greenery
See how it is (x2)
The only lessons you teach us from a margin
They ask my origin
The only lessons you teach us from a margin
They ask my origin, it's a moral sin, it's a moral sin
Extract from crystal though nothing is clear
I despise you, damn you, dream you
I love you
But still nothing is clear
I think of when i found you
You keep on singin while I'm drowning
Down into that two-tone vision
I've been raised in this place
And now concrete is my religion
See how it is (x4)
The only lessons you teach us from a margin
You ask my origin
The only lessons you teach us from a margin
They ask my origin
The only lesson you teach us, wrong and right
You ask my origin
The only lesson you teach us, wrong and right
They ask my origin, it's a moral sin, it's a moral sin
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