Apparently Tricky has left the past behind -- shrugging off the dark cloak of subversive trip-hop from his Angels With Dirty Faces and Pre-Millennium Tension albums and has resurfaced at the Disney-owned Hollywood Records with a more wholesome record on his mind.

The musician, born Adrian Thaws, first grabbed the attention of listeners as a member of the Bristol outfit Massive Attack, rapping on "Daydreamin'" and "Five Man Army" from their landmark Blue Lines album, but Tricky really made his mark with his 1995 solo album Maxinquaye, which featured the then-fifteen-year old Martina on dreamy vocals. For his next project, Tricky has tapped high-profile collaborators including Alanis Morissette, Live's Ed Kowalczyk and members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The album will be produced by Tricky and Hollywood Senior VP Rob Cavallo, who cut his teeth on Green Day and Goo Goo Dolls albums.

According to a spokesperson at Hollywood Records, the label didn't have to lobby for any of the special guests: "They all came to us." The record is due in stores in July.

JAAN UHELSZKI
(February 14, 2001)