Tricky may have been usurped in the cutting-edge stakes by dubstep producers like Burial and Kode9, not to mention Flying Lotus and the Brainfeeder crew, but the trip-hop veteran’s tenth studio album shows that he’s still capable of conjuring brilliantly warped soundscapes with the best of them.
False Idols – Tricky’s first album on his self-owned new label of the same name – is an impressive mix of funky, danceable rhythms and the kind of ominous atmospherics for which he’s renowned. The album kicks off with the dark hip hop of ‘Somebody’s Sins’, with the female vocalist quoting the famous line from Patti Smith’s version of ‘Gloria’, “Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine.” Similarly murky terrain is explored on both the moody ‘Nothing Matters’ and menacing ‘Valentine’, one of the best tracks, which features Tricky’s trademark whispered vocals.
Though there’s more downbeat fare in the form of the industrial-tinged ‘Parenthesis’ and the melancholic, string-driven ‘Nothing’s Changed’, False Idols also contains its share of uptempo moments. ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ has a terrific groove and catchy chorus, whilst ‘Is That Your Life’ is an excellent slice of electro-funk with echoes of TV On The Radio. For good measure, the exquisite ‘If Only I Knew’ ventures into dream-pop territory to wonderful effect.
At times during his career Tricky has appeared to lose his way, pursuing a highly idiosyncratic route that has seen him struggle to emulate the success of his landmark debut, Maxinquaye. However, False Idols is a timely reminder of his formidable talents.

Key Track: 'Valentine'