Mission Accomplished (EP)

Tricky is misunderstood—or so he seems to think, anyway. Granted, he’s conjured some compelling experiments in hip-hop, dub, rock, and soul in the past, but these days he sulks around with a Buick-sized chip on his shoulder, bitter he isn’t selling records like Jay-Z. On “Divine Comedy,” a rant against his former record label and the most notable track on this four-song EP, he points the finger at the music industry for not putting enough corporate muscle behind his music. It’s hard to make much sense of Tricky’s hissing, spitting, and growling, but the oft-repeated chorus of “Polygram…fuckin’ niggas,” makes his feelings clear enough. Blaming Polygram, though, for not being able to find an audience for his dark, disconcerting noise collages really isn’t fair. No matter how hard he tries, Tricky does not make music for the masses. That’s certainly the case here, where a guitar-heavy swirl of hypnotic beats, grooves, and effects will mesmerize those with the patience for it, but scare away everyone else.