Tricky presents Skilled Mechanics: a return to trip-hop roots and his own history

“Tricky presents Skilled Mechanics” is both the title of a new album, due on 22 January, and the name of a new group: a wry response to accusations that Tricky hides behind female singers in the studio and on stage. On the new album, he takes the microphone more often, though talented female vocalists are certainly present too, including Francesca Bellmonte, Oh Land and rapper Ivy. The Englishman revisits the days when he was a Massive Attack frontman recording the legendary “Karmacoma”. “Tricky presents Skilled Mechanics” can therefore be seen as a return to his Bristol Sound roots.

DJ Milo, Tricky’s school friend and one of The Wild Bunch’s founders, played a major role in making the album. “When we were eight, Milo and I lived together at my aunt’s […] At 16, Milo was already playing with The Wild Bunch, and he was the one who brought me into the crew. We rehearsed and partied at Massive Attack’s Daddy G’s house,” Tricky recalls.

The creator of “Maxinquaye” admits that he and Milo had long considered a joint project reflecting their fascination with soul, hip-hop, dub vibrations and street sound systems’ sonic richness. “Tricky presents Skilled Mechanics” retreats from the heavy rock sounds recently heard at his concerts. After two decades of solo work, one of Britain’s most fascinating artists has triumphantly returned to Bristol’s street sound. The new record is primarily electronic labyrinths, hypnotic groove, rhythm and lyrical darkness, leading straight back to the 1990s.

Just listen to the excellent “How's Your Life” or “Necessary”, which could easily have appeared on “Maxinquaye”, “Nearly God” or “Pre-Millenium Tension”. The concert will feature exciting new material and legendary tracks that secured Tricky's permanent place in trip-hop and electronic music history.