When you first look at the CD case, you're struck by it's cover; is it a suitcase or a door or something burned? What the heck is this? It begins a mystery. You put the CD into your player, expecting something, and almost immediately, the dark resonating beats of the first track "Overcome" hit you in a face. It sonically rolls over you hypnotically, sexual yet the heavy bass and dismembered flutes and samples give it an all too deep, heavy apocalytic feel. And that's only the beginning.

Here comes Tricky, former Massive Attack and Wild Bunch collaborator, straight from the hip-hop hedonism of "Blue Lines" and the soncially diverse "Protection." Armed with samples, ideas, angst and crooner Martine's whispy soulful voice, he gives you an album that refuses to leave you at the end.

Call it trip-hop or abstract electronica...it all seems undescribable by how many styles are weaved into this album; so seamless and flowing are they that you wonder how someone could have thought of it.

There's "Black Steel," a remake of Public Enemy's "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos," yet instead of using Chuck D's bullish activism, Martine makes the song sound so desperate until it feels that there can't be any escape from it. The slow rap of "Hell is Around the Corner" under the Isacc Hayes samples is downright eerie, while "Aftermath" feels like you're floating on air in the tropics; its hip-hop/blues fusion runs flawless.

But there's still blood on the tracks. "Brand New, Your Retro" is straight out hip-hop/electronic/industrial, angry and never ending. The final track, "Feed Me," leaves you at the end of the album just like how you entered it with a deep bass line and hard hitting beats, fading away slowy to leave you at the end of a rollercoaster, yet still intact and wanting to listen to it again.

Despite the few 'up' moments in this album and the constant dark feel of it all, it fails to isolate the listener, who's always anxious to hear more of what our tortured friend Tricky does next.

Former Massive Attack member, Tricky, strikes gold with his debut CD, Maxinquaye. This album has an almost surreal effect to it. The fact that the lyrics can be undistinguishable at times adds to that effect. Each track has its own mood to it and this is a CD that you will not get bored listening to. All the tracks are excellent but especially, Overcome, Black Steel, Abbaon Fat Track, and Strugglin'. If you are getting into trip-hop then you must buy this CD. Especially recommended for those who have all 3 Massive Attack CDs and Dummy by Portishead.

I am so glad I bought this CD. Tired of the top 40 crap that is played to death, I wanted something different and I definitely found it in Maxinquaye.

The music has a dark and sensual vibe to it. Trip hop is such an accurate description of Tricky's music. The vibe created here, takes you to a place where you can just chill and let the music carry you away.

I am a lousy reviewer, but this cd is amazing. If you love dark, moody and sensual music, this is definitely a purchase I recommend.

Don't listen to the people who don't like it cos it's one of the very best you can find.No matter if you like trip-hop or don't even know what it is, Maxinquaye is a must-have.No matter if you like male or female vocalists, rock or dance music, you won't be disappointed.

Every single song is more than brilliant,apart from 'strugglin' which is just good.Martina's very feminine vocals and Tricky's dark samples fit to each other perfectly as you hear in the beginner 'overcome'.

From there on, you just want more and more. Maxinquaye is not as depressive as Tricky's later works, it really keeps you up the whole day.It's even got a punk song, a cover of Public Enemy's 'black steel'.'Abbaon fat tracks' is a song to enjoy when you're alone or with your girlfriend while 'you dont' has a bit of party atmosphere.I think this album is also good for listening

in your CD player while you're roaming the city or whatever.I recommend it to everyone who're looking for gems to fill their cd collection or simply wanna hear some fresh, brilliant music.

In this case more than brilliant

Maxinquaye just blew my mind the first time I heard it. Overcome is the most hypnotic song I've ever heard. Tricky is a musical genius. He did a good job by getting my attention with the first song. I first thought that no other song on the album could compete with overcome, I was wrong.