Gary Flockhart - Music Matters

Published on 03/02/2011 11:36

IT started like this: some androgynous Ellie Jackson-alike called Franky dressed for school, said goodbye to her two gay dads, then left for her first day at Roundview College.

At the bus stop she got picked on by some schoolboy thugs, escaping them by jumping on a mobility scooter and slaloming into the school car park, where she nearly knocked queen beeyitch Mini (played by Edinburgh actress Freya Mavor) clean off her feet.

I'm talking, of course, of Skins series five - the first episode of which aired last week.

Now, cards on the table, I'm the wrong side of 21 to be watching the BAFTA-winning British teen drama. And yet I do. Why?

Well, before you go thinking that I feel any great affinity with the characters - how much could I possibly relate to life in Teen Angstville - I'd better say that what I most like about the show is the music.

Since the series first appeared on our screens in 2007 the Skins soundtrack has been a lot more than just background music - it's been an extra character.

There's no doubting the show's production team have an ear for a killer tune and they're doing a fine job of helping to break new bands.

It's thought there are around 150 songs in each series and, while you get the odd well-known track thrown in, many of them are by acts who'd have even Zane Lowe reaching for Shazam (ingenious iPhone music recognition app).

Word is that Skins are taking their support for unsigned artists up a notch this year - so can't wait to see what musical treasures this throws up.