Classy, modest, subtle and persistently engaging. So it may come as some surprise that ‘Fleshwounds’ is the debut album from former Skunk Anansie vocalist, Skin. More renowned for the hapless run-around the volatile Brit-Pop market gave them in ’97 and ’98 than for their icy (if manicured) peculiarity, Skunk Anansie unleashed their wiry political tracts to a soft-rock favouring audience to a fair degree of acclaim. However, any longevity was most certainly going to be scuppered by their awkward lack of direction. Were they Soul? Were they Rock? Were they Indie? Who knows? Not even their own marketing people seemed to know, and as a consequence Skunk Anansie went belly up. And this is where the story would or SHOULD end if the industry resembled anything close to real life. But it doesn’t. And what ruins the story is a rather surprising break in the narrative: Skin releases ‘Fleshwounds’ and it proves to be as straightforward a success as you could imagine.
Although it doesn’t stray too far away from the guitar crunching tactics used by Skunk A to produce a little heart drama (‘Listen To Yourself’) ‘Fleshwounds’ is a wholly more consistent and quieter affair. Producers David Kosten and Guy Chambers keep it sparse and chilly whilst the gossamer lyrical thrust of subject matter maintains an unusual gothic charm. Perfect for those long wintry nights with nothing but your book of Shelley poetry and your bottle of laudanum for comfort.
Muted pianos, tinkling break-beats and some eerie, weightless vocals make ‘Faithfulness’ an obvious stand-out track, but similar approaches on ‘Lost’ and ‘You’ve Made Your Bed’ make them mighty and believable also-rans.
‘I’ll Try’ may chase the moody and bitter relief of Dylan/Hendrix’s ‘All Along The Watch Tower’ with bald-faced impudence – but it’s a likeable enough similitude and chart-friendly ‘Trashed’ leaps out and lifts the mood just right.
We’ve had this one on standby for a weeks now just waiting for the right moment. So if the likes of Dido, Annie Lennox or even Joan Armatrading rock your box then it’s more than likely that this will.