Logos

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Logos is an Italian prog band from Verona that was formed in 1996 by Luca Zerman (keyboards), Alessandro Perbellini (drums) and Fabio Gaspari (bass and guitar) as a cover band of Le Orme. Later guitarists Massimo Maoli and Andrea Dossi joined the band (although Andrea Dossi only for a short period) and they started to work on original compositions. In 1999 they released a first self produced eponymous album. 
In 2001 they released a second interesting self produced album, "Asrava". Both albums are now free downloads and well worth checking out. 
Logos is very much alive, something this interview is proving beyond any doubts.
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When
was Logos formed and do you have any background from other bands ?

Logos:
History
of Logos began in spring 1996 thanks to three people, Zerman Luca
(keyboards), Alessandro Perbellini (drums) and Fabio Gaspari (bass
guitar and vocals), united by the intention of proposal original
progressive music. The atmosphere at that time was fully
characterized by potential of the “three instruments band”,
typical of the 70s progressive era (like E.L.P. or Le Orme). After
a while Massimo Maoli joined the band with his guitars. This was our
first experience, no background to tell. 

Whose
bands were you influenced by ?

Logos:
The
main influence is due to Le Orme, a band from Venice, Italy. However,
we had (and we are still having) the influence of other bands like
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, P.F.M., Genesis, King Crimson.

To
start with; please
give me your (long or brief) thoughts and lowdowns on.........

Logos
from 1999.

Logos:
First
Logos’ album is characterized by long compositions (in Italy we
usually call them "suite"). Here, it is very clear the
intentions that have guided us over the years. The refusal to
classic pop-inspired concept is denoted clearly in songs like "Il
grande fiume", "Sentiero nel prato Porta dell’universo",
"Un giorno", compositions that draw with both hands to
the seventies classical/symphonic atmospheres .

There
is also a ballad entitled "Arc en ciel", a short song that
misses the “rule” mentioned above. A guitar, in the most
easy way, develops a pleasant distraction that can paint with a few
brush strokes of dreamy lyrics by Maoli (our lyrics are all by
Massimo).

‘Logos’
was recorded by a tape recorder with 8 tracks, in fact it suffers low
quality. The short time for the recording and poor technologies
available in 1999, did not allow us to obtain an optimal result. But
we certainly check with positive view the intentions about
compositions and ideas in it.

At
home, we still have the original tapes: maybe in the future we could
think to a “remastered” version.

Ásrava
from 2001

Logos:
Asrava
is a disc that gave birth with an approach slightly different.

While
maintaining the styles adopted up to that time, the songs show a more
technical research and attention and the band develops compositions
more complex. Look to 99, Asrava or Ezra Pound.

But
we were not only complex men. "Epilogo"
embraces again very briefly, describing feelings, landscapes,
dream-like visions in a few minutes, however rich solemnity and
emotional, which in our view make the piece one of the most beautiful
and well realeased of the album. 

‘Asrava’
sound quality is better than first one. Our friend, Simone, gave
important technical contribution: he followed the evolution of work,
from recording to mixing the final tracks.

‘Logos’
and ‘Asrava’ covers were retrieved from paintings by Luca Zerman,
keyboardist of the band that combines music and a great passion for
art.

Both
albums are now free downloads from your homepage and I can only say
thank you for this generous gift to the prog rock community. Why did
you decide to give away your albums for free ?

Logos:
The
two albums were not meant for marketing. As mentioned earlier,
the resources available for these recording were not
exciting. Unfortunately, the quality of these products is not
enough to be brought to the market. But there is pleasure that
the community of progressive may listen to our work. The
feedbacks that we've seen make us hopeful for the next album.

It
is my understanding that you are currently both playing gigs and
working on a new album. Please tell us what happened after 2001 and
what you are up to these days.

Logos:
Since
2001 Logos have had numerous line-up changes. These constant and
unstable living have certainly not benefited the band. Although this,
we have had many scrambling live activity, and especially, the
composition is never ceased. In 2004 Claudio Antolini joined the
band: another keyboard player contributes to construct a sound more
classical and baroque.

So,
2010 saw the defection of Maoli Massimo, an historical member. Even
though with obvious difficulty, the group decided to continue the
training consists of three: a drum and two keyboardists. A very
strange and singular line-up.

Having
no traditional stringed instrument like guitar or electric bass, the
project is certainly not easy to implement, but, fortunately, modern
technology comes to our aid by giving us the possibility to simulate
what is missing. Our willingness is 'to go on, to go there':
this is the reason that Logos there is and there will be.

Please
tell us more about what we can expect from a new Logos album.

Logos:
The
new album will collect the last 10 years of activity. It will be a
concept album with intense  and very accurate songs, and with strong
and deep lyrics. We will talk about difficult issues such as the
origin and evolution of life.

The
record is in progress for a long time, and our expectations on it are
huge. We are working hard to give you a nice prog album: a
real Logos style album, which we strongly believe can be said to
be mature.

How
is the writing and creative processes in your band ?

Logos:
We
always start from Maoli’s Lyrics, originally not meant to be
music. What we tell are not even poetry: they are quite
sensations, images, the dreamy atmospheres.

The
development of the music part is made from a rough draft which is
usually created by Gaspari. Then all the people add ideas,
arranging the rest until we get to a song with a convincing sense of
fulfillment.

My
impression of your two albums is that both of them are in the same
style of Le Orme, Banco, PFM and Genesis. But which bands would you
compare your music with ?

Logos:
Influences
by Orme or Banco are undeniable, but we believe we have reached in
the years a fairly recognizable style. Since 2004 with the entry
of Antolini, atmospheres become more symphonic. The Logos
personality is now ripe to define and give to listeners a distinctive
sound.

How
easy/difficult do you find it to get gigs these days ?

Logos:
Especially
for progressive rock, live performance is something very difficult
and rare. In Italy the rage tribute band offering music more
commercial. There is some brave pub offering quality music, but
it is still not enough. The greater drama is the lack of musical
diversity. We believe that new generations do not have the
opportunity to choose what to listen to. The radios transmit
only disposable songs: the song is no longer thought of as a possible
form of art, everything is reduced to a mere business. A young
man should be able to choose, obviously, after having examined more
than one choice. But this is not covered in our society. In
any case, the Logos link to concert stages and chose wisely, focusing
on quality and the context in which the performance takes place. We
do not care ”how much”: we favor the audience attentive and
knowledgeable. 

What
is your plans for the rest of this year and next year ?

Logos:
The
new album is coming (in which we firmly believe), we will continue
with live performances, we are also sketching the writing of new
songs.

What
is your five favourite albums from Italy (of all time) ?

Logos:

1.
Le Orme - Collage 

2.
Le Orme - uomo di pezza

3.
Banco - Darwin

4.
Gensis - nursery crime

5.
King Crimson - in the court of the Crimson King

 Anything
you want to add to this interview ?

Logos:
For
Logos, 2010 was a very important year. Live activity, although not
intense, can boast participation to some important progressive
events. We played at “In Giardino Club” , in Verona the sacred
temple for progressive music. The large and attentive public
decrees the participation of Logos at Verona Prog Fest 2010, an event
organized in collaboration with the club, held in May in Verona.

On
that stage we had a wonderful experience, considering that to share
the scene with us there were names like Patrizio Fariselli (ex Area)
and Biglietto per l’Inferno. Verona Prog Fest become international
appointment: in fact, fans come from outside Italy because the
calendar of events is always full of important bands. 

The
summer of 2010, however, is the darkest hour for the band. As a
result of serious and irreconcilable differences, Logos continue the
adventure losing the historical guitarist Massimo Maoli.
As
explained above, the line-up remains at three people: Fabio Gaspari
at drums, Claudio Antolini and Luca Zerman at keyboards. The
difficulties in the new approach to the songs are not indifferent,
but the desire to pursue and create new things make us desist from
unhealthy ideas.
Aware of the condition rather anomalous we’re
trying to round our weaknesses to strengths.

Then
we start the fervent preparations for the memorable evening as we
remember.
On November 5^th,
in the picturesque setting of the Astra Theatre (famous for hosting
italians and international big names) we get our most important
performance. The evening was called ‘Progressioni Sonore". We
played some covers (like ’Collage’ and ‘La Porta Chiusa’) and
some preview tracks on the new album.

It
had a great response by people, including a great performance by the
new line up, that makes a real original proposal.
During the
evening was recorded a DVD and a CD that might be printed.
For
more info and pictures, please visit our website.

Folks
at ProgArchives,
stay tuned and thank you very much for listening to our music.

Claudio,
Fabio and Luca (Logos)

Thank you to Logos for this interview

The two first albums can be downloaded for free 
from here & their PA profile is here 