 The songs " Ponderosa " , " <unk> ' " , and " Hell Is Round the Corner " were inspired by Tricky 's experiences with marijuana , alcohol , cocaine , and ecstasy , particularly a two @-@ year binge and consequent state of despondency while on Massive Attack 's payroll after the completion of Blue Lines . His stream @-@ of @-@ consciousness lyrics on Maxinquaye explore the delirious , despondent , and emotionally unstable state associated with drug use while offering a pessimistic view of the drug culture , as Tricky viewed the high of cocaine undeserved and the depth of thought achieved through ecstasy unsubstantial . In Reynolds ' opinion , Tricky 's experiences with drug @-@ induced paranoia , anxiety , and visions of specters and demons were represented in the production of songs such as " Aftermath " and " Hell Is Round the Corner " . For the latter track , he altered and slowed down a vocal sample to give it a wounded basso <unk> sound , while channelling it through a loop of an orchestral Isaac Hayes recording titled " Ike 's Rap II " . On " <unk> ' " , which sampled sounds of a creaking door and the click of a gun being loaded , Tricky 's lyrics made explicit reference to his visions of " mystical shadows , fraught with no meaning " . 
