Tricky (born Adrian Thaws) is an English producer and musician who is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky bridges white and black England, particularly in his fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop culture.

'Puppy Toy' is the third single taken from last year’s critically acclaimed album, Knowle West Boy. This single is a sardonic smoky bar-room blues track, which features Leeds vocalist, Alex Mills. The banter between the two is playful but don’t let that fool you into thinking there isn’t a hidden depth of mercenary femininity and damaged goods.

The chorus on this track is interesting, consisting of a cascading piano riff, which fuses together with the jazzy strings.

The second track on this single is 'Numb'. This is a slow, emotionally charged offering, where you can feel the sadness of the music. It’s like something from a movie soundtrack, where you can imagine the pain that the characters are feeling.

These two tracks are both memorable and catchy.

9

Helena Rea