Review

Closure In Moscow - The Penance And The Patience

25.04.2008 | Cam | 1 Comments

Genre: Rock/Progressive/Psychedelic
For Fans Of: Circa Survive – Incubus - Saosin
Favourite Songs: Dulcinea – Here’s To Entropy – Jewels For Eyes
Running Time: 24:57
Year: 2008
Website Link: http://www.taperjeanrecords.com.au
Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/closureinmoscow

Score: 94

World-class release from local lads…

REVIEW.

Closure In Moscow is not a band that does things in half measures. When they first appeared on Melbourne’s live scene in 2006 they quickly earned themselves a noticeable buzz, their first shows being with high profile acts such as The Getaway Plan and The Hot Lies. Anyone who was smart enough to catch the group in their embryonic stages knew that something special was brewing and after some personnel changes and the deft production touch of Kris Krummet (Dance Gavin Dance, Fear Before The March Of Flames) CIM have finally released the record that everyone knew they were capable of creating.

The Penance And The Patience is a six-track affair that has successfully captured Closure In Moscow’s youthful enthusiasm and advanced musicianship and shows just why this Melbourne based five piece has the potential to conquer not only Australian audiences, but the rest of the world as well.

There’s no denying that Anthony Green has had a major influence on the CIM sound, as vocalist Chris DeCinque shares the same affection for soaring, borderline falsetto melodies that the Circa Survive (and ex-Saosin) front man has made so popular over the last few years. his vocal phrasings giving Closure In Moscow a perfect balance between pop and something a little more intelligent.

Lead track “We Want Guarantees” will be acting as a single (complete with a soon to be released video clip) and as such, it shows Closure In Moscow at their most accessible, the intricate guitar work and the band’s more subtle moments being brought to the forefront by the previously mentioned Kris Krummett. In my opinion the ballad like “Dulcinea” is the albumette’s standout with Chris and Manny’s vocal tag team giving the tune one hell of a hook... something that I imagine many people would love to sing along to if us mortals were capable of hitting those high notes.

The bouncy beats and disjointed guitar work of “Breathing Underwater” make for an instantly catchy three and a half minutes of modern rock, which makes the inclusion of the dramatic female vocals during the song’s mid section all the more surprising. “Here’s To Entropy” is a re-working of one of the band’s earlier demos and as much of a fan as I am of the song’s old format the updated version wipes the floor with it, the heavily effected guitars being given free run throughout the track.

The piano driven ballad that is “Ofelia… Ofelia” is captivating, something many bands struggle to achieve when including a slower song on their albums, while the closing “Jewels For Eyes” is the only six-minute epic I can think of that would have a legitimate shot at radio.

CONCLUSION.

This reviews headline says it all really. The Penance And The Patience is a world-class release, one that should see Closure In Moscow join their peers in The Getaway Plan at the top of the Australian rock heap.

TRACKLISTING.

We Want Guarantees
Dulcinea
Breathing Underwater
Here’s to Entropy
Ofelia… Ofelia
Jewels For Eyes

COMMENTS.

1. MissedChances

26.04.2008 01:40:03

i tend to agree with everything you have said but my personal feel for the slow songs are not as positive as you make mention. great release and great band.

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