Here’s to my immediate current music obsession.

Tricky – Lonely Guest (universal music link)

Such a perfect time for album release. It would be a dishonor to Tricky to match his music to a season. But in autumn, it’s really something to make peace with cold and grey. “Lonely Guest” is a real gem. How this guy keeps making music that is relevant and modern sounding today, and yet the trip hop that we know and love — is beyond me.

Last year’s “Falling to Pieces” was grief-laden after the death of his and Martina’s daughter. This one — I can’t even describe in terms other than pure Atmosphere (by the way, one of the jewels on the album, featuring a late Lee Scratch Perry). This one is filled with collaborations, and still a distinctly ‘Tricky album’, so gentle and piercing and brutal and soft.

Additional fun thing: on “Christmas Trees,” Paul Smith of Maximo Park, sings “I hope I’m still alive next year”, from their old “Apply Some Pressure.”

I’m wondering if the album would be a soundtrack of heartbreaks today in the same way as Maxinquaye was… Or is asking this like wondering if Beatles comeback album would cause hearts to break.