Trip hop pioneer Tricky will be releasing his 15th studio album, Different When It’s Silent July 17, 2026 through his own label, False Idols. The new album is the first full-length effort from the legendary and influential artist and producer under his own name in six years.
Different When It’s Silent came about during a rather prolific period of activity. Since 2020’s Fall to Pieces, Tricky has released material under several different guises including, Lonely Guest‘s 2021 self-titled effort, a collaboration with Mike Theis, called Theis Thaws, which released 2024’s Fifteen Days and last year’s collaborative album with Marta Złakowska, Out The Way.
Returning to releasing an album under his own name took on a different shape. Recored between Tricky’s home in France and sessions in Bristol, the album is reportedly a direct, focused batch of material that reconnects with the distinct sonic language that has defined the legendary artist and producer’s work since 1995’s iconic Maxinquaye. And he does by drawing deeply on the musical community that has shaped him and his work. Central to the album’s sound is Bristol-based vocalist Mitch Sanders, whose soulful falsetto is featured through such of the album’s songs. Their deep connection reflects a shared musical background and an instinctive chemistry between the pair.
“In my mind it was another side project” Tricky explains. But after hearing the material, his manager Alan McGee felt the songs clearly belonged to a Tricky record.
The 14-song Different When It’s Silent sonically sees Tricky blending skeletal blues, brooding electronics, distorted guitars and stark hip-hop rhythms into a sound that’s simultaneously stripped-back and expansive. The album moves fluidly across different styles while rooted in the restless experimentation that has long defined Tricky’s work over the past three-plus decades.
“I just love making music” Tricky says. “I’m grateful I’ve had the chance to live this life and keep creating.”
Different When It’s Silent‘s first single “Out of Place” feat. Marta Złakowska features a brooding and cinematic string sample introduction before morphing to a breakneck middle section which features Tricky’s imitable gravelly vocal with a punchy, almost punk-like deliver and Złakowska’s sultry yet restrained crooning. The song closes with a boarding and cinematic string sample. The result is as song that’s simultaneously forceful, uneasy and gorgeous while evoking the sweaty, self-aware sensation of somehow being out of place in your environment through a shifting series of contrasts.
Originally written for Złakowska’s own album, Tricky ultimately reclaimed the song for the forthcoming album.
Directed and edited by Steve Gullick, the accompanying video for “Out of Place” features the collaborators shot in blurred and constant motion in the foreground. In the background we see stylishly shot footage of each artist singing their respective part — or just being in a brooding photo shoot. It further emphasizes the feeling of being out of place.
Along with the new single and album announcements, the trip hop legend announced UK and European Union tour dates across May and June, as well as a handful of international festival circuit dates. Check out the tour dates below.
May
10th – Nottingham, UK – The Palais
12th – Dublin, Ireland – Vicar St
15th – London, UK – Troxy
16th – Manchester, UK – Aviva Studios
17th – Bristol, UK – Beacon
23rd – Bydgoszcz, Poland – Drums Fusion Festival
24th – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique
25th – Paris, France – Trianon
26th – Lyon, France – Radiant
28th – Antwerp, Belgium – De Roma
29th – Nijmegen, The Netherlands – Doornroosje
30th – Maastricht, The Netherlands – Muziekgieterij
June
1st – Den Haag, The Netherlands – Paard
3rd – Groningen, The Netherlands – De Oosterpoort
4th – Berlin, Germany – Huxleys
5th – Warsaw, Poland – Progresja
7th – Prague, Czechia – Meet Factory
8th – Vienna, Austria – Wuk
9th – Budapest, Hungary – A38 Ship
11th – Bucharest, Romania – Quantic Pub
12th – Sofia, Bulgaria – FOMO the club
13th – Zagreb, Croatia – Boogaloo
14th – Zurich, Switzerland – Kaufleuten
16th – Bern, Switzerland – Bierhübeli
18th – Hamburg, Germany – Mojo Club
20th – Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega
24th – Cologne, Germany – Kantine
26th – Malmö, Sweden – Slagthuset
27th – Uppsala, Sweden – Parksnäckan
28th – Gothenburg, Sweden – Filmstudion
July
4th – Amarante, Portugal – Mimo Festival
9th – Milan, Italy – Triennale (Palace Of Art)
August
23rd – Brecon Beacons, UK – Green Man Festival
29th – Bristol, UK – Forwards Festival
September
2nd – Vilnius, Lithuania – Kably’s
3rd – Riga, Latvia – Spelet Concert Hall
4th – Narva, Estonia – Station Narva Festival
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