Closer: Closer 2006

 

Closer is one of the most important bands for the Greek indie scene. Since forming, back in the early 90’s, they managed to stand out with their unique violin-driven, addictive melodies always “serving” the alternative/indie genre. Rightfully, the band has been chosen for the An Club’s 30th Anniversary/Gagarin 205’s 15th Fest, and they were kind enough to answer our questions, before their 24th November live appearance at AN Club.
                                                                                                             

On 16/7/1998 they performed at 'Rockwave Festival' (Pireaus) along with 'Pulp', 'Sonic Youth', 'Τα Ξύλινα Σπαθιά', 'Puressence' & 'Bokomolech'.
                                                                        

Members:
Andreas Pappas, John Ververis, Mike Karaplides, Nick Zografos, Nikos Hatzopoulos, Tasos Papastamou, Vagelis Pappas, Βάσω Νικολοπούλου, Γιάννης Καμπουρόπουλος
                                                     

LAST DAY DEAF (Interview)

Hello Closer! Starting with this one; What led you revive the band after almost a 10-year hiatus since your 3rd and latest album ‘Closer’?
Even though there was an absence from discography in these past ten years, Closer never ceased to be a

band. We would always get together to play and write music and we also had some live gigs. In parallel some of our group members were being active in other bands and working on their own side projects. In 2013 the band teams up the original ‘In The Market‘ line up with the addition of Vaso in violin and enters a new and more creative phase. In 2016 we sign with a record label and get in the studio with the intention to record a trilogy consisting of 3 EPs. We recorded the first one, titled ‘Renaissance‘ that was released in 300 copies. Unfortunately due to some miscommunication issues, we had with the label, we decided to part ways. Now we are working on new material which we are planning to release in the near future.
                                                                      

Did you enjoy the live experience at SNFCC last April? What was the reaction of the audience?

We had a blast, despite of that fact that the SNFCC rooftop was an unconventional choice of venue for us, since it was not designed to function as a concert hall. So even though the overall experience was quite different than playing in a bar or a club, the warm welcome of the audience, the perfect sound,  the amazing collaboration with the super professional SNFCC team and our everlasting “thirst” for playing music, turned it into a really memorable night that we are really looking forward to repeating it.
                                                              

Back to past! Your debut album ‘In The Market’ was one of the breakthrough alternative albums for the local scene. Specifically, the use of violin and the classic ‘Wine’ made you differ from the rest. Would you like to talk about this album a bit? What motivated you as a band to use the violin in your music in the first place?

Our first full length album ‘In The Market‘ is a landmark for us, not only because it put us in the Athenian alternative scene but mainly because it symbolizes our passage from adolescence to adulthood (both literally and metaphorically).  The album was structured around one melody that climaxes in the track ‘Ecstasy‘ and ends in the track ‘When Morricone Is Hypnotized‘. As for the use of violin in our sound, it was a choice that we made very early while trying to create our own unique sound that would differentiate us from other bands and it wouldn’t sound like “traditional” Greek folk music. What we had in mind was a mix of Tuxedomoon‘s sound with the ‘Siamese Dream‘ of Smashing Pumpkins.

Closer on Urban Aspirines HERE

Closer – Closer
Label:    Minos-EMI – 09463859212 9
Format:     CD, Album
Country: Greece
Released: Dec 29, 2006
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock

TRAXS

01. Intron
Mandolin – Tassos Papastamou*
Sampler [Samples] – John Ververis
Written-By – Andreas Pappas, John*, Vag*  4:23
02. Singles
Drums – John*
Trumpet – Nick Bardis*
Vocals – Katerina Papachristou (Bass Kat)*
Written-By – John Ververis, Vagelis Pappas 3:14
03. Breathin
Written-By – John Ververis, Vagelis Pappas 4:16
04. Honey
Drums – Θάνος Μιχαηλίδης*
Sampler [Samples] – John Ververis
Vocals – Mary (Mary And The Boy)*
Written-By – Vag* 4:27
05. Motel
Backing Vocals – Kat*
Electronics – Aris Christou
Handclaps [Claps] – Aris Christou, John*
Maracas – John*
Written-By – John Ververis, Vagelis Pappas 4:58
06. Balla-Da
Sampler [Samples] – John Ververis
Written-By – Andreas Pappas, John*, Vag* 4:53
07. Gap
Written-By – John Ververis, Vagelis Pappas 4:33
08. Empty U
Guitar – Andrew Ioannou
Written-By – John Ververis, Vagelis Pappas 4:27
09. Wander
Keyboards – John*
Written-By – John*, Tassos Papastamou*, Vag* 5:50
10. Freak
Backing Vocals – Kat*
Guitar – Andrew Ioannou
Written-By – John Ververis, Vagelis Pappas 4:46
11. Train
Keyboards, Maracas, Written-By – John*
Sampler [Samples] – John Ververis
Vocals – John* 4:30
12. Still Here
Drums – Mike Karaplides
Written-By – John*, Tassos Papastamou*, Vag* 5:13
13. Devil
Acoustic Guitar – Vag*
Piano – John Ververis
Written-By – John Ververis, Vagelis Pappas 5:05

Credits

Artwork, Design [Sleeve] – Michalis Kavadias*
Bass – Vagelis Pappas
Drums – Kostas Peroglou* (tracks: 1, 3 to 9), Nick Manousopoulos* (tracks: 10, 11, 13)
Edited By – Aris Christou (tracks: 1 to 7, 9, 10, 13), Thodoris Zefkilis (tracks: 8, 11, 12)
Guitar – John Ververis (tracks: 1 to 13)
Mastered By – Eroc, Takis Dimoulas
Mixed By – Aris Christou (tracks: 1 to 7, 9, 10, 13), Thodoris Zefkilis (tracks: 8, 11, 12)
Producer – Aris Christou, John Ververis, Vagelis Pappas
Violin – Tassos Papastamou* (tracks: 1, 3, 6 to 9, 11 to 13)
Vocals – Andreas Pappas (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 7 to 9, 12), Vagelis Pappas (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 6, 8 to 11, 13)

Notes

Track 12: Instruments recored live at Reaction Studio in 2001.
Some guitars, vocals, samples and all violins were recorded live at Closer's home studio.

MP3 @ 320 Size: 138 MB
Flac  Size: 437 MB