PHOTOSYNTHESIS

RPI in the 1980s?

"Photosynthesis" is the only release by the band SLOGANS, a group from Bassano del Grappa that formed in 1981 and recorded the album in 1983. The band centered around guitarist Roberto Gamo and keyboardist Ivano Tolio. The Mellow reissue of their album includes five "live in studio" tracks, including the song "Fotosintesi," which is not found on the original LP release.

SLOGANS had a lot going against them. They are at heart a 1970s RPI band recording in the non-prog-friendly 1980s. (It is debatable whether even the 1970s in Italy were prog-friendly, as evidenced by so many one shot bands that got no label support.) They worked in limited conditions, and the production reflects that. But the question is--do they pull it off? I think they do a very credible job (although not as well as their contemporaries HOPO)--in fact, the album is a very nice, melodic, heartfelt example of late stage RPI.

As mentioned, we'll look past the deficient production and skip to the music. The compositions sit squarely in late 1970s RPI territory, similar to SENSITIVA IMMAGINE or LA LOCANDA DELLE FATE, though not as memorable or accomplished as those bands. The complexity level is low to moderate (higher in my favorite songs "La Festa del Tiranno," "Con la Tua Musica," and "Old Family"). The adventurous factor is essentially nil. But the beautiful, melodic, pastoral elements are very strong. The musicianship is passable, though occasionally sloppy (see the keyboard solo in "With the Sun We Hide")--there are, however, some really nice moments of dialogue between keys and guitar, though, that more than make up for the occasional slips. There is even a strong Branduardi feel in "Aspetto il Giorno."

Overall, SLOGANS' only album is, along with HOPO, a nice entry into the tail end of 1970s RPI, which would essentially lie dormant until the emergence of NUOVA ERA in 1988--these guys were definitely swimming upstream! This is a good album, one to acquire especially if you're an RPI enthusiast/collector. If you don't get a chance, though, it's certainly not essential. (But if you're inclined, it's out of print, so hurry!) Three stars.

Slogans is an italian progressive rock who release only one album in 1983 named Photosynthesis, and re released on CD by already by famous label Mellow records in 1993 with 5 pieces as bonus (but on the CD is not specificated that they are bonuses)recorded live in studio, one track from that bunch Fotosintesi were not on original issue. So what we have here, the album released in a period when prog music was deeply in the shadow of other musical styles such as heavy metal or hard rock, Slogans manage to come with a good album yet very thin and pale in comaration with other releases from that perod. Influenced by bands from italian school like Locanda Delle fate or PFM with romantic arrangements that remind me at some point of german band Rousseau. Aswell on most energic moments like opening track La Festa Del Tiranno, the best piece from here, they have the sound of Genesis - Trick of the tail era. The album has some instrumental pieces , who seams to me the best moments of the album, + Bianca gives to the album a romantic feel. The music overall is ok, but to linear in places, I mean no much varation of one piece to another, specially on vocal departmen. Anyway a 3 star album for me, a good one, but far from being a spectacular one, even with the re issue on Cd of this album, they are very unknown in prog circles.

One of the well-hidden Italian secrets until Mellow Records reissued their album, Slogans came from Bassano del Grappa near Vicenza and were found in 1981 by singer/guitarist Roberto Gemo.They performed various live concerts in 1982-1983 throughout the Veneto region with Silvia Bizzotto on vocals, Marco Carlesso on drums, Michele Bianchin and Ivano Tolio on keyboards and Palmiro Gnoato on bass, until they released their debut ''Photosynthesis'' in 1983.

With all tracks written by Gemo and Tollio, the sound of Slogans had nothing to do with the 80's, being deeply grounded in the fields of 70's Italian Prog.''Photosynthesis'' is mostly a keyboard-based light Symphonic Rock album with a fair dose of jazzy overtones in the guitar parts, extremely similar to GUERCIA and also close to the likes of HOPO, PIERPAOLO BIBBO or L'ESTATE DI SAN MARTINO.The album contains all the familiar elements of the Italian Prog scene, that means melodic passages, clever interplays, synth-driven workouts and romantic sensitive vocals.''Photosynthesis'' has plenty of piano/synth changing themes, interesting guitar parts and decent arrangements, often with a semi-dramatic but always highly emotional atmosphere.On the contrary everything seems to be placed on the smoother side of Progressive Rock with the music rarely taking off, while the production is bearable but very far from professional.The Mellow Records CD reissue contains five additional recordings of the band, but their value is rather low.Four of them are actually alternative versions of tracks already contained on the original LP, this time recorded live in the studio, while the one and only unreleased composition is ''Fotosintesi'', a pleasant track, which however suffers from bad sound quality.

The first and last offering by Slogans, who seems that became history after the release of ''Photosynthesis'', is an enjoyable work of 70's-influenced Italian Symphonic Rock, that steps right over the traces of the legendary bands of the style.Recommended.