Knowle West Boy gives us a good indication on all the places Tricky has been to and experienced in the past decade. This album is a tribute to the district from which he came, and the vast range of music he looks to for inspiration. By no means can this be given the tag of ‘trip hop’ as this whole album is a tribute to Tricky embracing the softer side of himself.

This album is produced well, and moves through the club steppers like Cross To Bear which features Icelandic singer Hafdis, to a Jamaican dance floor groove like Bacative or Baligaga. While you’re bouncing away to C’mon Baby, a diverse rock ballad that works very well, you’re moved onto the dark Past Mistake without even thinking. There’s a bit of punk with Far Away and stomping electronic with Veronica. His rendition of Kylie’s Slow works well but takes nothing from the original, causing you to wonder what he was thinking when he decided to cover it – let alone put it on the album.

As he’s discussed in the media, Knowle West Boy is essentially an autobiographical work. School Gates is about him getting a girl pregnant at the age of 16, while Past Mistake is about his disintegrating relationship with his ex-girlfriend; who ironically, is the vocalist on the song. Council Estate is song about childhood heroes of his old neighborhood, with the song carrying the message that for everyone, there’s a bit of ‘superstar’ waiting to come out.

Tricky has always maintained that he’s not a singer, and this is evident throughout his album as he a female vocalist on most every track. He uses these vocalists as a way I which to reflect both sides of himself, as he likes to think of himself as very feminine and gentle. The downfall however is Coaltion, which is the only song he sings by himself and is ultimately the weakest point of the album.

Knowle West Boy doesn’t disappoint, and as quickly as you get into it, it finishes. Each track is short, but so diverse that you’re constantly called to re-visit them. Tricky’s hatred of the limelight and the fame that comes with making music has always been made known, but this album deserves to be in the light and enjoyed by everyone. And the album works as a fine tribute to the place that gave birth to this sensitive soul, one that by the sound of it, has endured a lot to come to this point in creating this record.