Womb

Effortless, beautiful and almost literally out of this world. That’s Skyray, and with their debut release on Space Age Recordings - “Womb”, Skyray push the boundaries of avant-rock even further out there. Skyray is the solo project of Paul Simpson, who made his name alongside Julian Cope in The Teardrop Explodes before stints with The Wild Swans and Care (who included Ian Broudie in their ranks) and to date he has released a series of records which have captivated both writers and fans throughout Europe and the States. Skyray sprang to life in 1997 with the release of “Invisible” - an 18-minute instrumental which according to Paul was neither Dance nor ambient, “just me being perverse”. Another epic single “Neptune Variations” followed soon after, again unplaceable, untraceable yet truly beautiful, it was described in NME as “Obscure but brilliant, paying a sort of homage to late-period Krautrock, specifically the pastoral La Dusseldorf and Cluster as well as less familiar names like Richard Pinhas." The incredible album, “Womb”. One track, 70 minutes long, comforting yet uncomfortable, like swimming in a sea of amniotic fluids unable and unwilling to reach the surface or to hear anything from without. It draws you into its soundscapes and from the first heartbeat you know you won't be able to free yourself from its beauty. “Womb” is without doubt a unique experience, although given the vagaries of Paul Simpson’s mind, who is to say how far removed from reality Skyray may yet take us.