2008′s Knowle West Boy seems as if it was light years ago, and even further behind were those trip hop years Tricky has now buried in the past.  Moving forward, Mixed Race not only packs a punch with its bold title, but nearly predicts what we’re in for with Tricky’s ninth studio album.  Though a veteran of the British music scene, Tricky has been living in Paris for the past few years and his French residence is reflected within each of the tracks, combining UK, Jamaican, North African and US-style sounds that somehow makes sense. By collaborating with both well knowns and smaller names, from Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie to Jamaican singer Terry Lynn and his own brother Marlon Thaws, there is a vast, prismatic variety of influences to balance out this intoxicating album. “Every Day”, “Come To Me” and “Time To Dance” define his most solid, current work and will fuel Tricky until his tenth release, though the musical path he takes next will surely remain unpredictable. It has become a trait that’s propelled and enhanced his supple career. (Domino) –Andrea D’Alessandro