Tricky to release new album in May

Hot Press’ old pal Tricky has confirmed the May 24 release here of False Idols, the first release on the label of the same name he’s set up.

The release is the first since 2010's Mixed Race LP, which included contributions from Franky Riley, Terry Lynn and Bobby Gillespie amongst others.

The gorgeous Francesca Belmonte-assisted lead track is available from Tricky's website for the price of an email address.

Another standout is the cover of Van Morrison/Patti Smith’s ‘Somebody’s Sins’, which starts with Tricky and Ms. Belmonte whispering, “Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine” and then unfolds over a sparse groaning bass.

“I was lost for ages,” Tricky says of his newfound indiedom. “I was trying to prove something to people, trying to do something to please other people and also myself at the same time, which is never going to work. To be honest with you, I’ve been floating around since Chris Blackwell and Island. My last two albums, I thought they were good, but I realise now they weren’t. This album is about me finding myself again.

“I signed to Island because of the artists and some of the stuff they’ve done – Bob Marley, Tom Waits. Who could I sign to now? Am I going to sign to a label because they’ve got Lady Gaga? I don’t want to be part of that bollocks music industry. I’m trying to bring that Island kind of thing back. Obviously False Idols is never going to be an Island Records, but it’s my way of trying to keep that part of the music industry going.”

Personally we thought his last two albums were ace but there’s nothing wrong with cranking up the quality control!