Christopher Wer Next Project
Self-released Album 2003
By Russell Garwood
Wer Next Projekt, an independently released album from Come Closers Christopher. Spanning nine tracks, and eighty minutes, his innovative darkwave mixes middle-eastern ethnic melodies, tribal rhythms, Celtic instrumentation and other world elements with the liquid flow of industrial guitars, classical influences, and a dance aesthetic. While naming influences could be a pointless exercise, those which come to mind immediately include Nine Inch Nails, Dead Can Dance, Enigma, and Delerium.
Everything on the album is performed by Christopher himself, making the high standard maintained throughout even more impressive. The drumming tends to centre around either African hand percussion or a more contemporary full kit. Rhythm is used to great effect in nearly all songs, while repetition and gradual increases in intensity and layering are used to build crescendos. The distorted guitars fit surprisingly well, adding immediacy, while atmospheric synths and samples are also well placed. As such, their ethereal melodies are plentiful, and many of the songs positively drip atmosphere. Christophers singing is impressive indeed, with operatic arias and falsetto creating memorable repeated hooks. A lower, but just as tuneful, timbre is used in some of the more traditionally-fronted songs.
Wer Next Projekt is an extremely impressive album, especially considering Christophers unsigned status. Professionally printed covers, well written, carefully structured compositions, a second CD with an EPK presentation, and polished production make it on a par with most label releases. The lyrical themes are all sex-orientated, which fits the sensual songs, while the other prevailing emotion is a dark melancholy. Fans of groundbreaking and genre-defying music would do well to pick up this release, as well as world-dance and industrial listeners. While many labels would be dubious of picking up such a unique act, on the basis of Wer Next Projekt, Christopher deserves to be signed in the near future.
Official Christopher website
Self-released Album 2003
By Russell Garwood
Wer Next Projekt, an independently released album from Come Closers Christopher. Spanning nine tracks, and eighty minutes, his innovative darkwave mixes middle-eastern ethnic melodies, tribal rhythms, Celtic instrumentation and other world elements with the liquid flow of industrial guitars, classical influences, and a dance aesthetic. While naming influences could be a pointless exercise, those which come to mind immediately include Nine Inch Nails, Dead Can Dance, Enigma, and Delerium.
Everything on the album is performed by Christopher himself, making the high standard maintained throughout even more impressive. The drumming tends to centre around either African hand percussion or a more contemporary full kit. Rhythm is used to great effect in nearly all songs, while repetition and gradual increases in intensity and layering are used to build crescendos. The distorted guitars fit surprisingly well, adding immediacy, while atmospheric synths and samples are also well placed. As such, their ethereal melodies are plentiful, and many of the songs positively drip atmosphere. Christophers singing is impressive indeed, with operatic arias and falsetto creating memorable repeated hooks. A lower, but just as tuneful, timbre is used in some of the more traditionally-fronted songs.
Wer Next Projekt is an extremely impressive album, especially considering Christophers unsigned status. Professionally printed covers, well written, carefully structured compositions, a second CD with an EPK presentation, and polished production make it on a par with most label releases. The lyrical themes are all sex-orientated, which fits the sensual songs, while the other prevailing emotion is a dark melancholy. Fans of groundbreaking and genre-defying music would do well to pick up this release, as well as world-dance and industrial listeners. While many labels would be dubious of picking up such a unique act, on the basis of Wer Next Projekt, Christopher deserves to be signed in the near future.
Official Christopher website
