Tricky

Tricky — Adrian Thaws — was part of the Wild Bunch collective and contributed to Massive Attack's early work before going solo in 1993. His debut album 'Maxinquaye' (1995) was an immediate landmark — a record of extraordinary atmosphere and strangeness that drew on trip-hop, punk, soul, and hip-hop in ways that felt completely original. Martina Topley-Bird's vocals were the perfect complement to Tricky's own.

'Maxinquaye' was Mercury Prize nominated and established Tricky as one of the most important British artists of his generation. 'Aftermath', 'Black Steel', 'Overcome', and 'Hell Is Around the Corner' were all extraordinary. The album's claustrophobic, paranoid atmosphere was unlike anything else being made in Britain.

Tricky has continued to record prolifically, his sound evolving through rock, electronic, and experimental directions. 'Pre-Millennium Tension' (1996) and 'Angels with Dirty Faces' (1998) were both strong follow-ups. He has lived in various countries and collaborated with artists across multiple genres. His influence on subsequent electronic and alternative music is considerable.