Tricky still from the block Tricky, who left Massive Attack to pursue a solo career in the mid-90s and had a major hit with his Maxinquaye album, came back after a five year break with his latest effort Knowle West Boy last year. But in fact, he’s got another two records up in his sleeve.

Knowle West Boy came out last year, five years after your previous effort. What had you been doing between the two albums?

Tricky: Nothing, literary nothing. I spent time with friends and family. I travelled, and went to Malaysia for a while.

Then you made the record and hit the road again…

T: For the last two years we’ve just been travelling and touring. We are finishing in September, then we start again in January.

And then another five-year break before the next album?

T: No, I’ve got two records done. One is coming out this year, and another record next year.

The title of the record, Knowle West, is a reference to a Bristol neighbourhood where you grew up, and the first single from it was “Council Estate”. How come you still relate to that place so much?

T: The song is about anyone who is living on a council estate. And if you want to know how I still relate to that? My cousin was shot two years ago; murdered. I’ve got a friend who got 40 years in Belmarsh jail.

Yes, but you live in the States now, nowhere near Knowle West… Anyway going back to the record, you’ve covered Kylie Minougue’s Slow, even though you always seemed pretty critical about mainstream things…

T: No, I’m not critical about mainstream music. I’m critical about things that I don’t like. Just because something is mainstream, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t good. I mean The Cure is mainstream, and they’ve always been my favourite band. I’m just critical about people who just want to be pop stars and not in love with the right music.

By the way, you’ve always had amazing vocalists. How do you find them?

T: Well, the last one I met at a shop. She was working at Top Shop.

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