Jump to content

Closure in Moscow

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Kiac (talk | contribs) at 02:16, 18 March 2010 (Reverted to revision 349288949 by Alansohn; When in reality, your opinion means nothiiiing. Don't add it here. Nice capitalisation there.... (TW)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Closure in Moscow

Closure in Moscow is an Australian progressive rock band from Melbourne, Victoria, formed in 2006. The band comprises lead vocalist Chris De Cinque, drummer Beau McKee, guitarist and vocalist Mansur Zennelli, bassist Brad Kimber and guitarist Michael Barrett.

Only 18 months after first forming, Closure in Moscow signed to Taperjean Records and released their debut EP (self-proclaimed 'albumette') in 2008, titled The Penance and the Patience.[3] They have established a name for themselves with an array of shows in their home country alongside international acts such as Saosin,[4] Coheed and Cambria, Aiden, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, A Static Lullaby, Street Drum Corps[5] and Unwritten Law.[6] The band's debut studio album, First Temple, was released in May 2009.

History

Formation

Closure in Moscow formed in 2006, in Melbourne, Australia. The formation is said to have consisted of "high school friends, one guy stolen from another band and a dude from a hair salon".[4] Singer Chris deCinque had previously been a drummer, and was said to be in "about five bands" when the band first met him.[7] After progressively growing their reputation, in mid-2007 they were chosen to share the stage with American band, Saosin. They caught the eye of the band and word reportedly got out to American magazine Alternative Press, eventuating in a small feature on the band in issue #229.[5][8] The band signed to Australian label Taperjean Records in early 2008. Alongside label-mates Fifty Sixx, Limbeck, Stealing O'Neal, As Tall As Lions and Copeland, they received added support. They received solid radio airplay internationally, and increasing pressure to head overseas to the United States and Europe, to tend to large fan bases.[9]

Debut release

On 19 April 2008, Closure in Moscow released their debut EP, The Penance and the Patience. The band advertised it as an 'albumette'. Upon the release of the EP, the band members were an average age of only 21, and the complete line up had only been together a few months.[10] They went to extreme lengths to record The Penance and the Patience, the band spent three to four months straight writing or doing pre-production, as well as quitting jobs to go on tour.[5] It was eventually recorded at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne,[1] with each of the band members selling their cars to get American music producer and engineer Kris Crummett out to do the album.[11] Crummett had previously worked on albums with Drop Dead Gorgeous, Fear Before The March Of Flames, Kaddisfly and Dance Gavin Dance.[4][11] The albumette was completed in July 2007, nine months before its release.[5]

The Penance and the Patience was originally only released in Australia and New Zealand, through Taperjean Records and Shock Records respectively. It was also available for import to overseas countries through Fist2Face, and through the iTunes Music Store as a worldwide digital download.[12] The albumette debuted at number 13 on the Australian Independent Record (AIR) album charts.[11]

Signing debacle and move to the United States

It was reported that American independent record label, Science Records, had signed Closure in Moscow on 26 June 2008. The label had planned a digital-only release of the debut across the US on 5 August 2008.[11] Science had also planned to send the band to the US in September 2008 to begin writing songs for and work on their debut studio album, which was tentatively set for release in late 2008 to early 2009. A US tour for September-November 2008 was also being planned.[11] This all fell through, as Closure in Moscow stayed put in Australia, doing their own national headlining tour and supporting Scary Kids Scaring Kids.[2]

In November 2008, following the original announcement months prior, the band was confirmed to be permanently relocating to the United States.[2] Closure in Moscow discontinued their contract with Science Records, upon which the group said, "after much deliberation, we mutually felt it would be best not to move forward with our relationship." They then signed with Equal Vision Records.[2] The move took place in early 2009, with the members heading straight into the studio to record their debut studio album. The producer of The Penance and the Patience, Kris Crummett, returned to produce the album, which is titled First Temple and was released on 5 May 2009.[13] The band used a wide array of instruments to achieve a fuller sound, including a dobro guitar, double bass, trumpet, trombone and strings which were 20 years old.[7] They moved to the US in late 2008 and toured in February 2009, following the completion of recording the album. The band filmed the move to the US and the production of the album, with it to be released on the web and in a full-length documentary.[2] The album peaked at number five on the AIR Album 100% Indie Chart and was mentioned in Alternative Press's list of "100 Bands You Need to Know in 2009".[14]

In January 2009, it was announced that Closure in Moscow would be one of 1100+ bands showcasing at the annual South by Southwest music festival in the US.[15] The band joined Emery on the select dates in the Zumiez Couch Tour 2009, then went on the Thee Summer Bailout Tour with Kiros, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Ivoryline and Secret & Whisper. On select dates during the tour, they joined The Audition and The Higher on The Audition for the Higher Tour, which also includes Runner Runner, In:Aviate and The Hoodies. The band planned to return to Australia in the start of December to play shows possibly through to January and February 2010,[7] eventually signing on for Homebake festival in December and as the only Australian band to undertake the full Soundwave festival through February and March, however the day before the start of the tour they were "relieved" of their playing duties, after being accused of making unreasonable demands to the event's organisers.[16][17] At the fourth annual AIR Awards held on 22 November 2009 Closure in Moscow's First Temple was nominated for the 'Best Independent Hard Rock/Punk Album' award, losing out to The Nation Blue.[18][19]

Band members Michael Barrett, Mansur Zennelli, and Christopher de Cinque, worked as session musicians on the album A Dream Is a Question You Don't Know How to Answer by Jonny Craig.

Musical style and influences

The band's debut release, The Penance and the Patience has been touted reminiscent of Saosin's debut EP, Translating the Name.[20] Similarities with Saosin have also been made in a live review in Sydney street press Drum Media of a show with label mates Fifty Sixx. The review is quoted as saying the band is "...combining the melodies that make bands like Saosin so popular with some off-time breakdowns and samples, taking little time to win over the crowd." The band have also been compared to other experimental and progressive rock acts The Mars Volta and Circa Survive by music website, Absolute Punk.[21] Additionally, they have been likened to post-hardcore band Chiodos, and defined as having "more in common with complex, seasoned bands like Rush and Tool than they do with fellow Aussie rockers AC/DC".[11]

Their style has been described as a "catchy, yet melodic, brand of progressive, avant-garde rock" by Kill Your Stereo.[11] However, the rise of previous bands with similar styles such as Coheed & Cambria, has hindered the meaning of avant-garde, which describes "those artists, writers, or musicians, whose techniques and ideas are in advance of those generally accepted."[22][23] When asked by Australian radio presenter Zan Rowe about their comparison with bands such as Saosin and The Mars Volta, guitarist Michael Barrett alluded to the influence of 1970s bands like King Crimson and Yes. Mentioning that "they're not that different from The Mars Volta" and it was a "natural progression".[7]

Personnel

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

References

  1. ^ a b "Closure In Moscow". Girl.com.au. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Equal Vision Records sign Closure in Moscow". Lambgoat.com. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  3. ^ "Introducing: Closure in Moscow". Bombshellzine. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  4. ^ a b c "Archives: Closure in Moscow". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  5. ^ a b c d Stafford, Fiona. "Closure in Moscow". DB Magazine.com.au. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  6. ^ "Closure In Moscow single tour". Kill Your Stereo. 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
  7. ^ a b c d "Closure in Moscow" (MP3). Triple J. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
  8. ^ "Closure in Moscow", Alternative Press, July 2007. {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) Issue #229
  9. ^ "The Getaway Plan announce new dates and national supports confirmed!". Access All Areas.com.au. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  10. ^ "Closure in Moscow - The Penance and the Patience". Fasterlouder.com.au. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "Closure in Moscow Sign Record Deal". Kill Your Stereo. 2008-06-26. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  12. ^ Henderson, Steve (2008-03-27). "Closure in Moscow Pre-Order". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
  13. ^ "First Temple - Closure in Moscow : Equal Vision Records". Equal Vision Records. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  14. ^ "Mover of the Week - Closure in Moscow". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
  15. ^ "1153 SXSW Acts Announced". Undercover.com.au. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
  16. ^ http://www.closureinmoscow.com/newsitem/16
  17. ^ http://www.killyourstereo.com/news/5905/closure-in-moscow-booted-off-soundwave/
  18. ^ "2009 Air Awards". AIR. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  19. ^ http://www.closureinmoscow.com/newsitem/17
  20. ^ Press, Garett (2008-04-18). "Exclusive Showcase: Closure in Moscow". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
  21. ^ "Closure in Moscow Profile". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  22. ^ "avant-garde". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
  23. ^ "Closure in Moscow - The Penance and the Patience". Faster Louder.com.au. 2008-03-27. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Closure_in_Moscow&oldid=350524334"