Skin

Following the 2001 dissolution of the provocative British quartet Skunk Anansie—widely known for its “clit-rock” approach—the group ended its run after issuing three commercially viable yet frequently misread or uncategorizable albums. Skin, the band’s longtime vocalist and its acknowledged emotional core as well as chief provocateur, chose to step away from music for a period once the split occurred. She slowly resumed writing songs and, in June 2003, surfaced with Fleshwounds, her debut solo album. That record exposed a quieter, more reflective dimension of the singer, who had previously favored direct confrontation over confessions about failed relationships. Nevertheless, questions of romantic attachment and the pursuit of contentment shaped the album’s lean, unadorned soundscapes. Contributions from former Skunk Anansie bassist Cass appeared on the project, which Skin composed alongside her enduring collaborator Len Arran.