The moment we heard single “Because I Don’t Know”, we had a feeling that Tricky’s 15th (!!) long player might be something special. Then “Still See Me There” came and reeled us in a little more with “I’m Yours” ultimately solidifying that Different When It’s Silent was really going to be it.
You can choose to believe the hype with folks saying that DWIS is Tricky’s best since Maxinquaye but, personally, we’re not even sure if this latest one is even on the same level style-wise as that legendary Trip-Hop classic. Records like the aforementioned Maxinquaye felt, much like Tricky’s work with Massive Attack, as if they were on another plane of existence and this latest one is not Tricky 2.0 or the next evolution of Tricky, DWIS is, quite simply, Tricky in the here and now. It’s a present record. And extremely grounded. And solid. Supremely solid.
Beyond the tracks that hooked us, there’s so much to choose from on here… although, we highly recommend listening all the way through as often as you can if at all possible.
“Be Still In The Pain” is the first fresh one on here following the one-two previously released punch which opens the record as Tricky’s signature flow and uncanny gruff delivery start this one off accented by Run Red Rambo’s verses and DWIS standout Mitch Sanders who lends an angelic aura to the chorus here. “I Tried” is a Sanders-led somber one that expands into a guitar emboldened rager with “So Cold” bringing out the Electro as Tricky and Sanders’ distinct mouthpieces form some interesting intertwining harmonies.
“Paris Maybe” has Sanders come down from up high into a range reminiscent of the late, great frequent UNKLE collaborator Gavin Clark until “Cannon Fodder” floats back up into the ether with the way Sanders guides this heavenly hymnal. Deeper within, “Radana” is sublime with the song’s namesake dropping some brain battling bars offset by “Piano” and a decidedly haunting Philip Glass-esque affair. “Frontier Town” and “Hengrove Blues” represent two sides of the same sonic coin before the lead single off DWIS, “Out of Place” ends the album in classic Tricky fashion complete with an appearance from longtime collaborator Marta.
Different When It’s Silent is out now through False Idols and you can order/save the version that’s right for you by heading here or to the stream below. For more from Tricky, including where to catch him on tour later this year that stops by The Sinclair in Cambridge on October 12th (Advance tix for that show available here), head to the interwebs and the socials by clicking here, here, here or here.