Fleshwounds

Sensibly, Fleshwounds plays to this strength: producer David Kosten--who's previously recorded as electro-classical composer Faultline--keeps the mood sparse and chilly, faintly recalling some of the icy textures of Bjork's Homogenic on the likes of "Faithfulness" and "You've Made Your Bed", or unleashing clinical grunge guitar on "Listen to Yourself". There are some sure-fire mainstream hits tucked away here, though, most obviously "Lost"--a lighters-out piano ballad penned with Robbie Williams' ex-songwriting partner Guy Chambers, which revolves around a lyric that skilfully captures Skin's very individual synthesis of vulnerability and emotional strength. --Louis Pattison