Maxinquaye

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Maxinquaye is Tricky's solo debut, released in 1995. He was dissatisfied with his limited role in Massive Attack and wanted to go his own way. He met the young singer Martina Topley-Bird, who became the main voice on the record. In 1994 he recorded the album, mostly in his own studio in London, together with producer Mark Saunders. The title refers to his late mother Maxine Quaye.

Tricky used techniques from dub and processed samples so heavily that they were barely recognisable any more. He deliberately left glitches and crackles in the mix. The sound is slowed, hazy and fragmented, with elements of hip hop, soul, rock, reggae and ambient techno. The lyrics deal with decay, difficult relationships, fear of intimacy and drug use. Many journalists called the album the best record of the year and the key record of the emerging trip hop.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Overcome4:29Apple Music ↗
2. 2Ponderosa (Original 7" Edit)3:31Apple Music ↗
3. 3Black Steel5:40Apple Music ↗
4. 4Hell Is Around the Corner3:47Apple Music ↗
5. 5Pumpkin4:31Apple Music ↗
6. 6Aftermath7:39Apple Music ↗
7. 7Abbaon Fat Track4:26Apple Music ↗
8. 8Brand New You're Retro2:54Apple Music ↗
9. 9Suffocated Love4:53Apple Music ↗
10. 10You Don't4:39Apple Music ↗
11. 11Strugglin'6:38Apple Music ↗
12. 12Feed Me4:04Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗