It turns out that the purveyors of my favorite Trip-hop of the 21st Century are ''acts we've known for all these year''. The Sneaker Pimps 2021 release shared earlier this month is a prime example. Every Morcheeba release since Skye re-appeared on that horizon. Even Portishead's long awaited Third. But in my opinion, the artist at the Trip-hop top is none other than Lonely Guest.
Who???
Lonely Guest!
Who the F??? is that, you might ask.
The inadvertent progenitor of the genre. The author of a paean to his mother Maxine Quaye who is nearly God . It is but another nom de musique for Adrian Thaws, the Tricky one.
When I first heard Lonely Guest's self-titled, I was blown away. This is a work of sheer genius. As I have listened to it many many times, I am certain it is one of the best Trip-hop album ever (right up there with Tricky's first) as well as one of the best albums of any genre I have ever heard. The things that M. Tricky does with sounds & words & beats & the human voice-as-musickal-instrument are nothing less than spectacular.
Like many other musicians, Tricky had been expecting to be on the road throughout 2020 (promoting his Fall to Pieces release). But as we all know, the Covid lockdowns put the kybosh to those plans. He then started to collaborate with other artists, realizing they could work together without physically BEING together. Thus Lonely Guests, the "self-titled" album released in 2021 on Tricky's label False Idols featuring collaborations with Marta Zlakowska, Joe Talbot, Oh Land, Murkage Dave, Lee Perry, Rina Mushonga, Kway, Paul Smith, & Breanna Barbara.
Listen to this with a clear & open mind & please let me know what you think. This whole Trip-hop magilla has led to this climactic moment. Play it Loud! Hit atmosphere!
Lonely Guest featuring Marta
Pre War Tension featuring Joe Talbot, Marta, & Tricky
Under featuring Oh Land
Pay My Taxes featuring Murkage Dave
Atmosphere featuring Lee Scratch Perry,Marta, & Tricky
Move Me featuring Marta
Pipe Dreams featuring Rina Mushonga
On a Move featuring Kway
Christmas Trees featuring Paul Smith
Big Bang Blue featuring Breanna Barbara
Enjoy the best Trip,
NØ