URBAN ASPIRINES: Closer: In The Market 1998 + Suddenly Comes... 2000

Sunday, October 31, 2021

Closer: In The Market 1998 + Suddenly Comes... 2000

Review Summary: A fantastic start for a band destined to obscurity.
Review by callum theatre CONTRIBUTOR - April 11th, 2014

Closer is an Alternative Rock band formed in 1991 in Athens, Greece. The band consists of Andreas Pappas (lead vocals), Vagelis Pappas, (bass guitar, backing vocals), Nick Zografos (drums), John Ververis (lead guitar) and Vaso Nikolopoulou (Violin).

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.

It feels unfortunate that in recent years I’ve found myself getting increasingly tired with music. I find myself almost unaltered when I listen to an album no matter how much I may enjoy it. It’s a rare occasion when I finally find an album that has enough in it, that I will end up altered by it in a positive way. It was at this stage when I recall browsing a site that has since escaped my mind and I came across a song by an unknown band named Closer, the song was entitled “Wine”. I put it on and for the three and a half minute run time I found myself captivated by the music, from how fun it was down to the infectious bass work. This song was something special; something that had affected me.

Closer is an Alternative Rock band hailing from Athens, Greece who in their life-span of over 15 years

have only released 3 full length albums. They are often overlooked and are unknown in, well, just about any other country than Greece. This is unfortunate as they have such a noticeably original and refreshing style of Slap-bass tinged Alt-Rock and also some interesting vocals from Andreas Melberg who sings in English despite it not being his native language, this makes for some awkward wording at times but ultimately doesn’t affect the album too much.

The first few songs of Closer's debut LP are dark and heavily rely on the atmospheric instrumentation. An example of this atmospheric style is found in the song “In The Desert” in which the indistinguishable vocals are hidden in the background, overcrowded with distorted guitars and harsh drumming patterns and the track works all the better because of this.

At frequent times, however, you will see the album branch away from this pattern, such as in the previously mentioned “Wine” which could easily be described as a quirky and fun pop song until you

get down to the fantastically loud and engaging chorus which comes out of nowhere hitting your ears with intent to get stuck in your head. Another song that should be mentioned is the almost acoustic “blue pussy” which is sung by an unknown female vocalist beautifully and takes a minimalistic style that is only seen on this track. In The Market relies on catchy and infectious hooks that are able to impact the listener within first listen.

There’s one huge flaw in this album which is down to final song “Morricone” that at 20 minutes long

goes nowhere. In its huge run time (taking up 1/3 of the album) it could have easily been cut as the song prior to it entitled, “ecstasy”, would have been a more appropriate album closer. Fortunately in this album there is still 40 minutes of enjoyable and accessible music on offer. In this album lies a variation of styles yet it remains consistent throughout. The instrumentation is exactly how it needs to be and the songs are a delight to the ears. Closer really hit gold with their debut release.

Super greek alternative band singin' in english.

Η πρώτη ολοκληρωμένη δισκογραφική δουλειά των Closer, το In The Market (1998, Studio II)

θεωρείται μέχρι σήμερα ένας δίσκος ορόσημο στην κατηγορία των αγγλόφωνων ελληνικών κυκλοφοριών. Η επιτυχία των Wine, Blue Pussy και Storm, σε συνδυασμό με τις διθυραμβικές κριτικές που κερδίζουν απ’ το σύνολο του τύπου, αποτελούν το κλειδί για την πρώτη τους συμμετοχή στο Rockwave Festival (1998) στο πλευρό των Sonic Youth και των Pulp.

Η ραγδαία αυξανόμενη δημοτικότητα της μπάντας, θα την οδηγήσει άλλες δύο φορές στην σκηνή του Rockwave, το 1999 μαζί με τους Garbage και την Patti Smith και το 2000, με τους Muse και τους Oasis, το σημαντικότερο όμως είναι ότι θα προσελκύσει το ενδιαφέρον της βρετανικής ΕΜΙ και του sublabel Chrysalis.

Το δεύτερο full album των Closer (Suddenly Comes, 2000) θα κυκλοφορήσει
κάτω από την στέγη της βρετανικής εταιρίας, όπως και το single Mystery Falls Down, ένα χρόνο αργότερα, αποτελώντας το επιστέγασμα της καθολικής αποδοχής που γνώρισαν.

Στο απόγειο της δημοτικότητάς τους, οι Closer εξαφανίζονται από τα
δισκογραφικά δρώμενα και τις live εμφανίσεις, δηλώνοντας το παρών έπειτα από χρόνια, με την αυθεντική αρχική σύνθεσή τους, και το τρίτο album τους.

CLOSER - IN THE MARKET 1998

Closer – In The Market
Label: Studio II Records – ST II CD/107
Format: CD, Album
Country: Greece
Released: 1998
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock

TRAXS

01. Intro   3:21
02. In The Desert   4:31
03. In The Market   3:09
04. Storm   4:18
05. Bored   4:23
06. Wine   3:25
07. Too Late   4:34
08. Pain   3:31
09. Blue Pussy (Music By – Closer, Kostas Parissis/Vocals – Flora Ioannidi) 4:04
10. In Full Swing   3:43
11. Ecstasy   9:14
12. When Morricone Is Hypnotized   20:35

Credits

Acoustic Guitar – John Ververis, Kostas Parissis
Bass – Vagelis Pappas
Design [Cover], Graphics [Computer] – Kosmas A. Arvanitis, Lexima
Drums – Nick Zografos, Nick Hatzopoulos
E-Bow – Kostas Parissis
Electric Guitar – John Ververis
Lead Vocals – Andreas Pappas
Music By, Lyrics By – Closer
Percussion – Nick Zografos
Photography By – Andreas Zorbas
Producer – A. Christou, Closer
Recorded By, Mixed By – Aris Christou
Violin, Violin [Electric Violin] – Tasos Papastamou
Vocals – John Ververis, Vagelis Pappas

MP3 @ 320 Size: 153 MB
Flac Size: 449 MB

CLOSER - SUDDENLY COMES... 2000

Closer – Suddenly Comes...
Label: Chrysalis – 7243 5 27471 2 2
Format: CD, Album, Digipak
Country: Greece
Released: 2000
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock

TRAXS

01. In My Hours Of Need   4:32
02. Heaven Knows   3:44
03. Universe (Drums – Costas Peroglou/Trumpet – Manos Theodosakis) 4:25
04. Session Lover   5:48
05. Total Bitch   4:23
06. Zooloop      0:50
07. Dark Spots   4:04
08. Today   5:19
09. Mystery Falls Down   5:25
10. ...And Waves Became Feelings
(Bass [Parts] – Vagelis Pappas/Guitar, Harmonica, Piano, Drums – John Ververis/Violin [Additional] – Tasos Papastamou) 5:01
11. In The Sunny Morning Rain (Trumpet – Manos Theodosakis) 6:06
12. Zealot Ape   2:56
13. P.S. Away   14:29

Credits

Artwork, Design [Cover] – Melanie Merges-Dimitriou
Bass, Vocals – Vagelis Pappas
Classical Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals – John Ververis
Drums [Drumset], Percussion [Electronic] – Mike Karaplides
Engineer [Assistant] – Alex Indares
Engineer, Mixed By – Aris Christou (tracks: 1 to 11)
Management – Spilios Labropoulos
Mastered By – Christos Hatzistamou
Music By, Words By, Instruments – Closer
Photography By – Elias Bogdanis
Producer – Aris Christou (tracks: 1 to 9, 11 to 13), Closer (2) (tracks: 1 to 9, 11 to 13), John Ververis (tracks: 10)
Recorded By – Aris Christou (tracks: 1 to 11), Lazaros Karayiannis (tracks: 12, 13)
Recorded By [Violin] – Theodoris Zefkilis
Violin – Tasos Papastamou
Voice – Johnny Camp