Tricky's eighth full-length is an homage to his breeding ground and feels like a career-long mix-tape, effortlessly blending dancehall, funk, rock, hip-hop, electronica, and Afro-punk. Working with six different female vocalists, here Tricky eschews much of the druggy, claustrophobic atmosphere of his earlier work, and what results is more assured and, with a mixture of live and programmed instruments, almost sounds "band like." His best work in years.

From the unlikely return of the Verve to the rebirth of Portishead, there's no denying that a '90s revival is in full swing. Now, one of the enigmas of that decade sets his sights back to the country that borne him. Tricky's eighth full-length, Knowle West Boy, is an homage to his breeding ground and feels like a career long mix-tape. Throughout he touches on the various genres that he's always has flirted with, the record effortlessly blending dancehall, funk, rock, hip-hop, electronica, and Afro-punk (or as his new label's name suggests, Brown punk). Tricky continues to connect mainly with the female voice and here he utilizes a total of six women vocalists to give life to his words, feelings, and emotions. Gone for the most part is the murky, druggy, claustrophobic atmosphere that made his early work memorable and, at the time, unlike anything we'd heard before. What Tricky sounds like now is a more assured, streamlined and secure alt black rock "band" with a mixture of live and programmed instruments, not so different from what N.E.R.D., Saul Williams, Santogold, TV on the Radio, and Mos Def are doing. Tricky still doesn't really sound like any of these American comparisons, however, as his range feels wider. While he is still referencing Tom Waits, the Specials, Public Enemy, the Cure, the Pop Group and '80s hip-hop, now everything feels the most anxious, present, and current. Yeah, it's been a long and rough road for Tricky but compared to his last few records, this one sounds like he's reconnected with something and is inspired again. Mostly self-produced with some assistance from Bernard Butler, he also enlisted chameleon producer on the rise Switch (Santogold) to mix the whole album. Knowle West Boy is recommended if you were a fan beyond his debut, Maxinquaye, and is his best work in years. [DG] (September 10, 2008)