8/10

Throughout the last few years, the buzz behind Joy Crookes has been reaching fever pitch. With a flurry of impressive single and EP releases under her belt, notching up accolades and praise at almost every turn, she has quickly become the talk of the London scene with her distinctly smooth and shimmering soul-inspired direction. And with the last few month's worth of material showing us once again that her spark is far from diminishing, she returns to unveil her highly-anticipated debut album 'Skin', a record that showcases her as a bold and impeccable talent throughout.

From the very start, we get this strange feeling behind Crookes' persona, as if she is channelling the likes of Eartha Kitt and Nina Simone with her sultry vocal style. Backed up by a broad and soaring trip-hop, reggae, and dancehall-inspired production, 'Skin' sets itself as a contemporary reimagining of a classic soul record. While basing much of its direction in a warm and piano-led guise for her to swoon and serenade her way across, there are this truly euphoric moments scattered amongst the prose, creating a powerful and awe-inspiring release that aims to pull you deeper and deeper into her own passionate world.

While there have been plenty of artists similar to Joy Crookes over the years, she has been able to effortlessly separate herself from almost everyone around, delivering a truly unique listening experience in the process. 'Skin' is more than just another modern soul album, but a brave step forward in terms of creative ideas and general intrigue.