Music is in an odd place now. Between the poptastic boy band stylings, hard hop/hip rock musings ala Korn and Limp Bizkit and the idea that Third Eye Blind and the Dave Mathews Band are alternative, music seems afraid to take risks.Thank heaven or the other place for Tricky. The dark prince of “don’t call it trip-hop” brought his twisted vision to the Newport Music Hall Monday night. He’s touring in support of his recent release “Juxtapose,” a collaboration with Cypress Hill’s DJ Muggs and DMX producer Dame Grease.Tricky is a former member of the British band Massive Attack, a collective that blends reggae, hip-hop and soul music into a deep minor key groove. After Massive Attack’s second CD “Protection,” Tricky left to cut his own path as a solo artist.With the release of his solo debut “Maxinquaye,” Tricky was crowned “The Prince Of Trip-Hop.” Trip-hop is an experimental version of hip-hop which blends more avant garde musical and vocal styles. Tricky rejected that title and rebelled against the co-opting of his style by releasing a series of emotionally and musically dark albums. Tricky’s live performance reflects his dark leanings. The stage was washed in deep blues and reds or at times, no light on the stage at all. Tricky was supported by a guitar player, a bassist, drummer, keyboardist and female vocalist. For the majority of the show, the band was obscured in darkness. Any light illuminating the band was fleeting, giving the show a ghostly feel.Tricky opened up with “For Real,” the first single from “Juxtapose.” The song is a folk-inflected hip-hop song that is pleasant and pretty. But the light feel was quickly forgotten as Tricky rasped, growled and screamed his way through almost two hours of tracks from “Maxinquaye,” “Pre-Millennium Tension,” “Angels With Dirty Faces” and “Juxtapose.”What makes Tricky interesting live is that the band extends the groove from the album tracks. They’re deeper and heavier than concrete-laced dumplings. It’s a hypnotizing effect. You don’t know whether to dance, bob yer head or scream. The best suggestion is all of the above.The only disappointment was the fact Tricky’s long time collaborator and female alter ego Martina wasn’t at the show. However the unnamed woman filling in for her more than held her own. There were also some new members of his backing band anchored by his long-time players, Perry Melius on drums and Gareth Bowen on keys. Melius earned MVP status with his powerful, fluid tribal drum work. Highlights of the show included a painfully sexy version “Antihistamine (Heart of Glass)” an amped version of “Black Steel” and “Blow My Head Off.” Actually the whole dang show was a highlight.Ah, never has darkness felt so good.