“Trick Trick” by Trickpony

Here’s the thing about trip-hop… On the one hand, it almost always sounds instantly dated, forever locked in the ’90s as the soundtrack playing over the speakers in some swanky mall boutique. On the other hand, the good stuff is the sleeker, more suave cousin to the hauntology emanating from labels like Ghost Box, always dreaming of a stylish future that we’ll never actually experience.

Rest assured, Trickpony’s latest EP, 24/7 Heaven, is chock full of the good stuff. The trio of Michael Gunson, Maria Korkelia, and Katie Campbell — who should definitely not be confused with the country music trio that was active throughout the ’00s and ’10s — excel in producing the sort of sultry, uber-chic trip-hop last heard in the mid-to-late ’90s (e.g., Hooverphonic, Lamb, Sneaker Pimps). You know what I’m talking about: crisp beats, smoky electronic textures, and wispy female vocals that are as sensual as they are aloof, and all of it coated with lush production and arrangements.

Every song on 24/7 Heaven is a master-class in trip-hop revival, but “Trick Trick” stands out thanks to a serpentine bass line that glides under the funky rhythms, swirling atmospherics, and subliminal vocals to keep them all grooving.

24/7 Heaven is currently available via Step Ball Chain.