Bark Psychosis: “A Street Scene” () / Tricky: “Aftermath” (Island)

‘A Street Scene’ and ‘Aftermath’, ostensibly British releases as well, are not so constrained by tradition. They take what can only be described as an experimental walk on the quiet side. Tricky solder an extraordinary amalgamation of reggae, rap, whispering rock and shady funk together, oozing out the kind of tar baby melody, all liquorice and treacle, that seeps into your consciousness like an addictive narcotic, industrial and toxic. Likewise, Bark Psychosis, in a jazzily improvised style that moves along alternately between dream and nightmare seem to emphasise the tense power of restraint. As someone once said of conversation, it’s what’s left out that appears to matter most. ‘A Street Scene’ might ultimately lack that extra bit of edge but certainly both of these offerings will at least impose themselves sufficiently to make you sit up and examine your assumptions for a while.