Tricky Vs. The Gravediggaz - "The Hell E.P."

Dino! (de_prenc@postoffice.utas.edu.au)
Wed, 9 Aug 1995 12:02:17 -0800

Hey again all,
Seen no discussion on this yet. Maybe cos it's not available
most places yet? However some of us were lucky enough to be in the U.K.
when it came out! Ha!! ;-) Anyway I was turned onto Tricky recently at
Phoenix when I was fortunate enough to catch the last half of his show
(after a very dissapointing performance by the Roots.) Anyhow I was just
cooling out in the crowd and it was like "Wow!" When I got back into
London I went straight out and bought the album, being all round impressed
(I got it on sale [on vinyl] at HMV in Oxford Street for a mere 8 quid.)
Anyhow soon after that the Tricky/Gravediggaz single came out. The first
thing I noticed about it was the cover which looks really good. You've got
Tricky and Martina (?) right up the front dressed in black holding a
shopping cart filled with garlic, a wooden stake, etc. Then in the
back-ground (whcih is all burning,) you have the Gravediggaz (with the
exception of Prince Paul, who I assume had nothing to do with this
project,) all standing in the flames looking freaky. Added to this the
record (which I got, once again from HMV,) comes on "flame red vinyl" for 4
quid. Altogether tight packaging for a tight product.

The E.P. breaks down like this..

A1. Hell Is Round the Corner (Original Mix)

Exactly the same as on the album. Great track. "Dress me up in Stussy"!

A2. Hell Is Round The corner (The Hell & Water Mix)

A Tricky produced remix. Does little for the track really, merely slowing
it down. That's not to say it's a bad remix, it's just that I still prefer
the original.

B1. "Psychosis"

Now the Gravediggaz get involved. This track is produced by Tricky and Rza
, so while it's still got that certain ambience theat Tricky puts into the
track (particularily with regards to the lyrics of the song,) it is also
backed by a big floating bass line that I'd ascribe more to the Rza's
input. Vocals here by Tricky (goes first,) and the Grim Reaper (who wraps
it up.) No real elements of rap in this track though. Just a whole lot of
wierdness. (e.g. Reaper looped over saying "Falling, slowing falling.
Jesus Christ!") As much as I'm dodgy about the term, this track is
definetly best described as trip-hop. I hate to say it, but unlike the
term hip-bop (everyone remember that?) I'm pretty sure that "trip-hop" will
survive as in many cases it's the best way to describe the track.
"Psychosis", like all tracks that I would refer to as trip-hop, merges
elements of ambience with hip-hop.

B2. "Tonite Is A Special Nite (Chaos Mass Confusion Mix)"

Produced by Tricky, Rza and Dobie (?). Vocals by the Tricky and the
Gravediggaz (it then goes on to say a.k.a. Rza, The Grim Reaper and the
Gatekeeper, making no apparent mention of Prince Paul who i hope has not
left the group.) Basically a brand new Gravediggaz track (with another
big-ass bass line,) that features Tricky. :-)

All together it's a very nice record. If anyone in the Bay area is
interested in picking it up I've seen one copy for sale in Streetlight
Records on Market (in SF,) for $10. I'm out.
Dino!

Michal the Milkman
Milkman@Quake.Net
(415) 328-2124