Get Rowdy

Following the success of the Swap As Soon As You Hear event at Twisted Pepper, Come As Soon As You Hear are throwing a UV-themed extravaganza, inspired by the new rave revival that became synonymous with the first series of Skins circa 2007.

DJs Peter Fingleton of (C U Next Tuesday) and Frankie Grimes will serve up a heady mix of Indie and Electro and, as ever, there will be an interactive element to proceedings. Let's just say, if you're planning on coming, I advise sporting a T-shirt or top that you don't mind getting scrawled on...

The event kicks off at 11pm this coming Saturday, the 20th at Twisted Pepper. Entry on the door is €8 but you can get in for the discounted price of €5 if you put your name on this here guestlist.

Full details on the Facebook page.

Love Harder

Since stumbling across his track 'Diminishing Returns' in one of the Skins advertisements last week, I've developed something of an infatuation for Ali Love.

Even if the name doesn't ring a bell, you've surely encountered Love before as the vocalist on The Chemical Brothers' monster 2007 hit, 'Do It Again'.

The Prince-esque electro-funk of his first album didn't really grab me but, after hearing his track 'Love Harder', that gradually builds around a chunky bassline borrowed from Frankie Goes to Hollywood's 'Relax', I think I've been converted.

The sound reminds me of a more synthy Esser and I suspect Love will continue to draw comparisons to The Purple One. However, if these two tracks are anything to go by, Love's forthcoming album might see him ruffle the perfectly-preened feathers of the reigning synthpop princesses.

Ali Love - Diminishing Returns



Ali Love - Love Harder



Download this track for free via the lovely Nialler9.

If You Lust For Me Tonight...

...I'll let you drive off in the morning.

The fourth season of Skins is scheduled to return later this month and I, for one, can't wait.

The show's website is a fantastic accompaniment, offering glimpses behind the scenes, information on music used in the show and a range of other content.

Over the past few days, individual teasers for the show's characters have been uploaded and it seems those behind the series are continuing a tradition of teaming top-notch visuals with brilliant music.

Pandora Teaser:



Song from Pandora's clip: Toro Y Moi - Low Shoulder

J.J. Teaser:



Song from JJ's clip: Ali Love - Diminishing Returns

Today I stumbled across the full trailer, featuring a track by Designer Drugs, and it's managed to drive my level of anticipation up another few rungs.

Skins Series 4 Trailer:

This Isn't Enid Blyton...

You could've fooled me.

I'm a bit disappointed by how underwhelming the Skins finale was. It's a pity to have such an unsatisfactory ending to what has been an excellent series I can only hope the awkwardness of the ending stems from the show's makers' intentions to pick things up where they left off in the next series. Despite initial reservations, I really grew to like the new cast.

Hopefully next time around there'll be more focus on characters like Pandora, Thomas, Naomi and The Twins who were completely sidelined in the last episode in favour of the love quadrangle that has dominated the series.

All in all, top o' the telly though, E4.

[Images: Skins Website]

Skinswatch

Skins 3 seems to have overcome its early glitches and shaped into some very decent telly. Tonight's episode, focusing on the 'socially dysfunctional' J.J. was, as wanky as it sounds, quite touching.

I really like the dynamic between Emily, currently coming to terms with her lesbianic tendencies, and J.J. because it reminds me of my own relationship with one of my best school-friends. Although obviously we were infinitely less cool than this pair.

Paula advised that I download Channel 4's '4OD' application to watch the episodes I'd missed and I duly obliged. Tragically however, my banjacksed laptop gets overwhelmed everytime I try to run the program. Bugger.

The Skins of Change

Here's the first part of the first episode of Series 3 of Skins, which kick off on E4 next week. It provides an introduction to some of the new cast, as well as welcoming back a couple of familiar faces.

Lyndsay found this alternative trailer for the American Market. Eyes peeled for Ardal O' Hanlon.



Thoughts??

Not Just Skins Deep

I suspect that I'm a bit longer in the tooth than the target demographic for cult TV programme Skins. Nevertheless, the advertisements for the E4 show rarely fail to catch my attention. Whoever's responsible for the branding and promotion of the show certainly knows what they're doing,

This trailer for the third series, featuring an (almost) all-new cast, positively spews all over your computer screen:



My spider sense tells me there'll be a backlash to this. The series begins on 22nd of January on E4.