SKINSHAPE Vinyl & CDs

Review: If you don't know William Dorey already then chances are you're about to realise you've been missing out on quite the artist. Working as Skinshape, he's managed to garner a quiet cult following for his relatively quiet music, designed to unwind to, allow worries of the day to unwind, and dissipate into a concoction of psychedelic pop, downtempo electronica and dubby grooves.
Turn Away, a two-track single featuring titular piece and 'Dreams of Panama' is the latest case in point. Sublime melodies and deceptively advanced acoustic guitar work set to lackadaisical rhythms and beat patterns, soothing brass and synthesised strings helping capture a real mood. Which, specifically, is all about slowing down, and taking time to appreciate the moment. Designed to transport you to far away places, real and imagined, it sounds reductive to say these are bonafide travelling tunes but they are. The real joy is they also sound incredible when standing still.

Review: As the story goes, Will Dorey's Skinshape project grew out of a love for "old music and the way it sounded". And while his discography suggests he's only been releasing music for some six years there's no denying the raw, dusty and retroactive fidelity of his recordings. Mixed entirely by Dorey, the Englishman's embrace of yesteryear takes in a particular blend of psychedelic rock and folk that meets with touches of jazz, soul and classical, with a range of subtle echoes, dub delays and reverberations added to the mix. Take "Penny In A Well" and "Hurry & Enjoy" for example, two of the shorter tracks on the LP but flying examples of Dorey's creative versatility. Kick back and enjoy!