Rising from the same legendary Bristol scene as Massive Attack, and one of the driving forces behind the groundbreaking sonic experimentations tagged as ‘trip hop’ that was encapsulated so perfectly in his mid 90s Maxinquaye album, things have been quiet with Tricky for the past few years. But while he’s had his head down with the running of his Brown Punk label, he was always driven by the knowledge that he had at least a few more important stories to tell. So welcome Knowle West Boy, the personal chronicles of his upbringing on a tough Bristol council estate.

As well as relating his own experiences, Knowle West Boy is as much a comment on the crippling nature of the class system in the UK. “When you’re from a certain area, you’re perceived in a certain way,” Tricky told ITM. “It’s acknowledging that… young kids feel alienated, you walk into a store and straight away there’s mistrust, you go for a job and if you’ve got your postcode on there, it’s likely you’re not gonna get the role.” And the album is as much about Tricky wanting to keep a connection with his past. “It’s a ‘real’ area, people are real there and I have to try and keep some Knowle West in me… it grounds me I think.”

And it’s definitely appropriate subject matter, because there’s always been something about the Bristol ‘trip hop’ sound that’s been unnervingly tied in with a grimy sense of urban alienation, even if it’s always lingering just underneath the surface. I fact, it makes you wonder why we didn’t hear Knowle West Boy ten years ago. Ahead of his upcoming Australian tour, FasterLouder’s Angus Paterson talks to Tricky.

Tricky’s Knowle West Boy is out in August through Domino/EMI. Check him out at the following dates…

Wed Jul 30 – Sydney, The Metro
Thu Jul 31 – Melbourne, Prince of Wales
Sat Aug 2 – Byron Bay, Splendour in the Grass (SOLD OUT)
Sun Aug 3 – Brisbane, The Arena

And for a sneak peek of the new album, check out the clip for Council Estate of the upcoming album…