Being that my background before becoming a web designer with PostIdol Media Ltd. was a decade in the music industry, it is obviously safe to say that I am deeply routed into music. I have a passion that I can confidently say is rivaled by very few! So, recently I was on one of my trips, scouring the internet for some new music. Looking for that hidden treasure of an album. That album that is more than just some good music but also is very intellectual and takes me somewhere else. Guess what? I found it in Alien Skin! Alien Skin! is the new solo project from ‘Real Life’ keyboardist George Pappas. You would remember the Australian band ‘Real Life’ from their 80’s uber-smash hit “Send Me An Angel”. Well, if you’re old enough you would remember it, lol. At any rate, in 2004, George decided that he wanted to try doing some solo work that was routed in electronic but with a different mood and perspective than the previous works he had done with ‘Real Life’. Due to health and personal issues the venture was delayed. But, come 2008, and finally Alien Skin’s album ‘Don’t Open Till Doomsday’ was born. 10 tracks of spiritual, intellectual and intelligent electronic music that really captures the listener. At first, the album came across as a concept album, maybe routed in space and aliens. But after doing some digging on the Alien Skin website I found that each track actually has it’s own story or meaning. 1.Outer Limits – This song starts off very atmospheric, almost as if you are actually on the surface of the red planet and looking off into the distance listening to a transmission that you are faintly picking up on your shortwave radio. Then the track breaks into a large chorus that subtly explodes as if the sun just rose on this dark planet. Rays of light, happiness and then drops back into the desolate lyrics and atmosphere. The electronics and clarity in the production of this song really lend to it’s effect. A great opener to a spectacular journey of an album. 2.Razor Arms – This is personally my favorite track. Not sure if it’s because of the obvious familiar structure of the song or if it’s the cool 80’s feel to it or if it’s George’s soothing voice. But this track, for me, is easily the catchiest piece on the album. And as the song builds it almost hits an ‘Enigma’ sound just before the powerful, emotional chorus kicks in. The production on this track as well is very good. Clear sounds of all the instrumentation makes this almost a meditative rock piece. (Is that even possible?). 3.Savior – This song begins with some atmosphere and then a very low key synth starts while a higher, catchier melody plays over top. George begins to sing the song. The lyrics seems to be addressing someone special to him. Awesome synth vocals are layered into the song as well. When the second verse hits, George turns the vocals around to now be talking about himself as the savior to the person he was originally addressing. A very pretty ballad. 4.The Spirit Is Willing – This upbeat is one of the more 4 on the floor tracks. Yes, the vocals seem to take a more minimalistic approach. Vocoder stylings with a subject matter I guess that is clearly stated in the above interview excerpt. There’s a great break in the middle of the song that just reaffirms the atmosphere of the album, I think, reminding everyone that this album really is a journey through the space of one’s mind. My interpretation anyways. 5.It Doesn’t Matter (I Want You) – This song starts off with some repetative lyrics about “How Do I Feel About You?” and then when he says that “It Doesn’t Matter, I can’t have you” you feel the almost obsessive vibe of the song. The subject of the story has obviously been longing for the person they sing of for a long time. The track isn’t overall my favorite on the track. But not for any bad reasons, it just simply is one of the more simple tracks on the album both lyrically and musically. Still catchy, still produced wonderfully…..just lacks a little of the minimalism and experimentation of the previous tracks. 6.Gloomy Sunday – I just love this track. Like some of the other tracks, it starts off with some nice, melancholic electronics and then a synthesized voice comes in. The whole first verse gets sung without a beat even being hit. And the way the track comes in and builds is very effective. There is an obvious spacey feeling when the eerie retro keyboard comes in. Something straight form The Twilight Zone. This song always feels like it is going to just explode into an emotion filled eruption. But it never does. It keeps you hanging on and waiting, teasing almost. But leaves you just wanting more. Hit repeat and listen again! 7.For Always – This track starts off quite mellow. The keyboard sound, note and effect almost reminds me of the beginning of 50% of the ballads in the 70’s. But then the electronic, bubbling beat comes in subtly in the background. And George’s voice begins to serenade. One of the more atmospheric tracks on the album, For Always is quite catchy, yet mellow and relaxing and dreamy. 8.Burning In My Hands – A hugely synthesized track. Spacey, atmospheric with a very cool, beat. Almost could be considered an instrumental track as there are no obvious verses. But it is a great atmospheric piece that lends to the overall appeal of the album. 9.Dust To Ashes 1945 – As stated in the above interview excerpt has to deal with thew bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. It has a surprising up beat to it. But as you listen carefully you can hear the darkness of the lyrics. An emotional piece about a very sensitive piece of Japanese/US history. Very experimental in the vocal stylings though. 10.Alien Skin – This is the closing track of the album and it is very fitting as such. It almost fits as the music as the closing credits of the movie are rolling up on the screen. Repeating periodically throughout the track is “Stranger Within / Alien Skin”. Reminding the listener of what they have been listing and almost tempting the listener to listen again. Saying that there is more to find in this treasure. Good beat, great electronics and as always, awesome production. It’s true that this album does take a few listens, and even then you are not quite sure you have found all the treasures to be found within it’s 10 tracks. There are sound scapes, lyrics and moods that will take your mind and body to another world where George is the co-pilot. Showing you the furthest reaches of his mind and imagination. And along thew way teaching us things about ourselves as people, races and humanity. Showing us what else is out there and what we have done so far. Alien Skin – Don’t Open Till Doomsday is an absolute gem of an album. Any album that you need to listen over and over again, not just cause it’s a great listen, but also to find the hidden treasures that you maybe didn’t hear the first time, is easily worth the measly $10 George is asking for for this piece of art. So, head on over to the Alien Skin website. You can listen to all the tracks on the Alien Skin website. And then click the “buy” button and get yourself a true treasure that is sure to go down in musical history! Jackson Presley http://www.beat2pulse.com/

This debut offering from George Pappas, formerly of Real Life, is one that upon first listening you think you hear hints of that era gone by. Fortunately the complex simplicity of each of the ten tracks gives you pause to listen over again and listen well to realize this is nothing of the any past era but rather the future. The minimalism of the lyrics and seemingly so of the music is a façade as there is a much greater message found throughout with repeated listening of the CD. There is a multifaceted purpose to the CD with its lyrics and musical compositions that is not just "Alien Skin" deep. Much is said and left to interpretation with spare lyrics and amazing musical composition. This album shows what a true artist can do with knowledge, experience and most of all talent in the world of alternative electronica. The silky vocals that accompany many of the tracks lure you to the truly listen to the darkly erotic and sensual trance of lyrics and music found in "Saviour" and "For Always." Both seem to delve elaborately, both musically and lyrically, into the love hate correlation found not only in relationships but life as well all the while seeming to be much more simplistic. A similarly seductive message can be found in "Dust To Ashes 1945" which may be the best track on the CD for the innovative and clever use of programming synths and vocals that make you once again think you are hearing about death and find you were actually seduced again by astonishingly clever constitution of soft percussion and smooth vocals. The CD provides tracks that Pappas has also left wide open to interpretation and are easily taken for the best dance music for any club in "The Spirit Is Willing" and the second half of "Burning In My Hands." A CD that is definitely worth buying and listening to in order to prove that a first listen to any music but especially Alien Skin is not always what it appears and can often be an intellectual as well as an aural intrigue. -- Macavity for Muen Magazine

"Don't open till doomsday" pays homage to classic 80's genres, worshiping its sensibility and love for synth melody in a more traditional sense but opening the door to experimental additions and contents bordering ambient psychedelia that at times reminds of Coil in its intricate arrangements and complex sonorities. A dark wave tone is also noticed that could be referenced with flirts with Martin L Gore solo works, as a matter of fact the melancholic tone given to the synth lines and the touch of darkened atmosphere landed in ambient textures and sophisticated digital and analog components remits to a defined influence in this direction. But there is a varied definition on his composition, an expanded colour palette is appreciated that adds a marginal tone and takes distance from a definitive imitation. His voice and some arrangements reminds of the experimental side from Marc Almond, mixing exoticism with romantic themes and somber backgrounds that intensify the aural expectation from the listener. His compositions are really meticulous, evidently dedicated to detail and subtleties, this is also appreciable on the vocal arrangements, changing tones and yet maintaining a natural flow that is both mellow and shady. This music has an odd character, sometimes sensual and earthly while others is just like a lone abandoned spaceship floating in the immensity of space, this aspect could be related with the fact that the voice constitutes the organic component while the electronic ambience and rhythmic accompaniments are melancholic and cold, opaque in contrast. Tracks wander between typical analog synth-pop harmonies adorned with sophisticated digital textures and accompanied by downtempo rhythms filled with an organic touch and sometimes subtle electro infiltrations. Following the logic from this combination a modern act that could be coupled with this creation is Othon, minus the operatic side. Percussion is minimal but notably based on downtempo leanings, glitch details are found, micro beats and simplistic sequences that share sympathy with trip-hop and chill out. The preoccupation with melody and texture above rhythm results impressive and seducing and probably constitutes the principal ace along with the inclusion of modern technologies and sound additions, its relaxed chill out melancholia suits well in the night that falls over the city. So the debut from Alien Skin constitutes a modernized version of synth-pop, avoiding the extreme simplicity from the beginnings of the genre and advancing into the sound of the future with their alliance of darkened ambience, coupling modern rhythmic synthesis and ultra polished finishes impress with its marvellous combination created, ultimately the whole union from these characteristics results exquisite, a strange potion with dark magic. Its beautiful evocation of melancholy through lyrical content dealing with varied thematic on dark love, loss, despair, solitude, ontological alien encounters and even an ambiguous notation on existential horror found in "Dust to ashes 1945" gives a glimpse on how vast the thematic form the work is and the experience from the author in terms of musical inspiration. Ultimately the work is solid as it uses the past on his favour, reviving dreams and evocations from it (as its structured in synth-pop basics) but adapting them into our times, our feelings and aesthetics condensing in it a contemporary universal experience. A modern tale is told by Alien Skin, ultimately a hit for the soul and the heart. -- Jack The Ripper for Heathen Harvest

This debut offering from George Pappas, formerly of Real Life, is one that upon first listening you think you hear hints of that era gone by. Fortunately the complex simplicity of each of the ten tracks gives you pause to listen over again and listen well to realize this is nothing of the any past era but rather the future. The minimalism of the lyrics and seemingly so of the music is a façade as there is a much greater message found throughout with repeated listening of the CD. There is a multifaceted purpose to the CD with its lyrics and musical compositions that is not just "Alien Skin" deep. Much is said and left to interpretation with spare lyrics and amazing musical composition. This album shows what a true artist can do with knowledge, experience and most of all talent in the world of alternative electronica. The silky vocals that accompany many of the tracks lure you to the truly listen to the darkly erotic and sensual trance of lyrics and music found in "Saviour" and "For Always." Both seem to delve elaborately, both musically and lyrically, into the love hate correlation found not only in relationships but life as well all the while seeming to be much more simplistic. A similarly seductive message can be found in "Dust To Ashes 1945" which may be the best track on the CD for the innovative and clever use of programming synths and vocals that make you once again think you are hearing about This debut offering from George Pappas, formerly of Real Life, is one that upon first listening you think you hear hints of that era gone by. Fortunately the complex simplicity of each of the ten tracks gives you pause to listen over again and listen well to realize this is nothing of the any past era but rather the future. The minimalism of the lyrics and seemingly so of the music is a façade as there is a much greater message found throughout with repeated listening of the CD. There is a multifaceted purpose to the CD with its lyrics and musical compositions that is not just "Alien Skin" deep. Much is said and left to interpretation with spare lyrics and amazing musical composition. This album shows what a true artist can do with knowledge, experience and most of all talent in the world of alternative electronica. The silky vocals that accompany many of the tracks lure you to the truly listen to the darkly erotic and sensual trance of lyrics and music found in "Saviour" and "For Always." Both seem to delve elaborately, both musically and lyrically, into the love hate correlation found not only in relationships but life as well all the while seeming to be much more simplistic. A similarly seductive message can be found in "Dust To Ashes 1945" which may be the best track on the CD for the innovative and clever use of programming synths and vocals that make you once again think you are hearing about death and find you were actually seduced again by astonishingly clever constitution of soft percussion and smooth vocals. The CD provides tracks that Pappas has also left wide open to interpretation and are easily taken for the best dance music for any club in "The Spirit Is Willing" and the second half of "Burning In My Hands." A CD that is definitely worth buying and listening to in order to prove that a first listen to any music but especially Alien Skin is not always what it appears and can often be an intellectual as well as an auricle intrigue.