Closure in Moscow never really anticipated that their musical career would escalate to the point that it has.
Although, as vocalist Christopher de Cinque speaks of the band’s accomplishments to date he is seemingly unperturbed.
“Nothing’s really been surprising so far…” he ponders, “Oh actually, no. I guess going to places like Japan and Poland and having people singing along and knowing who you are. That’s pretty surprising.”
Since their formation in 2006, Closure in Moscow has slowly and surely been climbing the rungs to success.
The release of their first EP The Penance And The Patience in 2008 garnered local and international attention, debuting at #13 on the Australian Independent Record Album Charts. Though it wasn’t until the following year that things really started to hit fever pitch for the band.
Following on from the steady stream of international attention they received, the Melbourne based five-piece made the decision to permanently relocate to the United States where they recorded and produced their debut full-length album, First Temple (2009).
The album cemented the group’s involvement in the experimental progressive rock scene and had them heralded by US press as talented and exciting up-and-comers.“The wait will be well worth it… I think people that have been waiting for [the next album] and getting a bit impatient – all their prayers will be answered.”
Sine then the pressure has been mounting for the Closure crew as they continue work on their second album and strive to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump.
De Cinque confidently muses about the band’s next effort and assures fans that they are in for something “pretty special,” in what he interestingly reminds us is his “biased opinion.”
“The wait will be well worth it… I think people that have been waiting for [the next album] and getting a bit impatient – all their prayers will be answered,” the lead vocalist says.
“It can get to a point where the anticipation can peak and after awhile people are just going to be like, ‘Fuck this’ and not care anymore. But, I mean, I really think what we’re about to drop is going to alleviate any concerns,” states the frontman proudly.
Closure in Moscow is set to be recording material for the new album, to be titled Pink Lemonade, in Melbourne over the summer period and if all goes to plan will be released in early 2013.
In the three years since the release of First Temple a lot has changed for Closure in Moscow, and not only in terms of their level of fame.
In 2011, it was announced that two of the band members, bassist Brad Kimber and drummer Beau McKee, were no longer a part of the lineup due to personal differences.
The current configuration includes original members De Cinque, Mansur Zennelli (guitar/vocals) and Michael Barrett (lead guitar) with the addition of Salvatore Aidone on drums, and bassist Duncan Millar.
“Over the years we’ve changed as people and grown up and our music tastes have changed. That sort of molded things in a different way,” the frontman explains.
“Having new guys and obviously two entirely different personalities and entirely new tastes in music and playing and style… it’s shaping up to be better and better all the time. I think that’s going to reflect on the next album in cool ways, which will be really interesting to hear,” de Cinque reasons.
Most people who know a little something about Closure in Moscow can identify the band’s penchant for lyrics that symbolise their philosophical beliefs, and the same can be expected from their sophomore album.
“The next album is pretty heavily influenced by the fool’s journey and some of those insights. I won’t reveal too much now, but Pink Lemonade is kind of a metaphor for quick-fix enlightenment or just the question of enlightenment itself,” DeCinque shares; “That it’s actually something that people try and attain. I won’t go too much into it – it’ll make a lot more sense once the album’s out.”“I gave it my all with my signature move… I do a pretty mean Neo bend bullet dodge.”
As the outfit continues working on Pink Lemonade they’ve returned to their homeland for a handful of intimate shows before preparing for their stint at this year’s Pyramid Rock Festival.
No strangers to the festival scene, Closure in Moscow have previously appeared on bills for the Vans Warped Tour, SXSW and Australia’s own Homebake, amongst a slew of others.
As the conversation veers towards music festivals, de Cinque recalls two of his favourite festival moments.
The first being a “pretty fucking cool” one-off in Washington State, “having Angelo [Moore] from Fishbone play sax and theremin with us in a song was a pretty big honour… that was really, really special,” exclaims de Cinque.
“Another good experience was I placed third in the Warped 2010 dance-off. I was robbed of the crown because second place was to a guy who got naked and just poured water over himself. I thought that was cheap trickery.”
The winner of the boogie-off? “First place was Andrew W.K’s wife. She does yoga and she’s a dancer, and she’s really hot so I think that was an unfair advantage as well,” DeCinque continues.
“Third place was good enough for me. I gave it my all with my signature move… I do a pretty mean Neo bend bullet dodge [from The Matrix].”
It’s clear that Closure in Moscow is well schooled on the festival scene, so just how do Australia’s large-scale music events stack up against America’s?
“Australian festivals are more belligerently drunk. That’s the main difference,” DeCinque observes.
“There’s no other real difference that I’ve noticed; just a bunch of sweaty people [who] get their fucking rock on. That’s it. Here they’re just a bit more drunk.”
Pink Lemonade is due early 2013. Closure In Moscow play Pyramid Rock at Year’s End. Full details here.
Listen to Closure In Moscow – ‘The Impeccable Beast’ below:
