Scorpio: Last year your "Primary Fear" album was released. What can you say about it? How does it compare to previous releases?
Enzo: I think that "Primary Fear" represents the natural continuation of our previous album, in the sense that you can find all the elements that characterize our sound from "Parallel Worlds" to the other CDs — the mix of power, prog, and epic that we can now define as our style. We continued to work as we always have; everything came out naturally, without forcing anything.
Scorpio: Why are almost half of the songs on the album instrumental?
Enzo: Well, you know, besides singing I also play keyboards — I am the author and composer together with Franco. Consequently, I try to express myself not only through my voice. And as a composer, I can tell you that there are contexts in which the music alone is enough. After all, something similar happens in all those groups where everything is not reduced to simple singing, like YES, GENESIS, and all those progressive bands that have given rock a more classical dimension. And if you can sing with dignity, it's not necessary to sing throughout the entire album. I think the voice is like an instrument, and there are cases where it simply has to play. This would be a good rule for everyone.
Scorpio: Don't you think it looks like there are "cuts" in the album?
Frank: No, I don't think they are cuts — they are an integral part of the album! There are moments when a person can express better what he feels or wants to say only by playing, without singing. Often a solo or a keyboard piece gives more emotion than words... After all, notes are like words — there is no difference!
Scorpio: You recorded a real organ. Did you have any problems with that? Getting permission, for example.
Frank: It was a beautiful experience, recording in a completely empty cathedral! The only problems we had were with the sound: trying to adjust the position of the microphones just right to get an imposing sound for the recording, so that it would arrive to our ears and our hearts just as intended... For the rest, no problems. I have many enemies, but also many friends.
Scorpio: Don't you think that an organ doesn't sound great in an apartment — it needs a big space for its sound, like a church?
Enzo: I think the sound of an organ is better in a church than in a house. In fact, you can see that the best organs are found in the best churches!!! At home it's difficult to have a good organ, because of the dimensions, the sound, and above all, in an apartment you can only play keyboards with sampled sounds. So just think of the atmosphere of playing a piece live in a church for your album... Fantastic!!!
Scorpio: So, what do you think is humanity's primary fear?
Enzo: This album is not only the logical musical continuation of the previous ones, but also in terms of lyrics. We have continued to write about what people perceive and feel — what happens around us. What unfortunately happened on that sad September 11th in America also induced us to deal with this topic: the primary fear, as an alarm, a sense of impotence, frustration, and pain — all of which run through human history. In a certain sense, "Primary Fear" is a suspended album — it doesn't give grand answers; everything is concentrated on one's own feelings. I am sure that the obvious consequence of our next CD will be an answer. I think our audience understands perfectly the relevance of our themes. That's why our fans are not children.
Scorpio: You release one album a year, so is the new album expected in 2004?
Enzo: Well, approximately a year — we don't exaggerate! Probably the next album will be done in early 2005. After all, we avoid rushing ourselves, including with the label. We release a new CD simply when we are convinced of the final result, and that's it.
Scorpio: Frank, where did you learn to play guitar so well?!
Frank: Thanks! Well, I began playing guitar at 11, but at 8 I started playing the piano. Then I studied classical music. At 11 came the first record, and then I began recording. After that I started teaching guitar... Now I read from all over the world that I am appreciated as an Italian guitar player. It's a beautiful satisfaction, but I don't stop practicing every day!
Scorpio: On the last two album covers you used a naked girl and a spider (on "Primary Fear" it's huge! :) ). What do they symbolize?
Enzo: The female figure represents everything tied to Eros in the psychological sense — that is, the opposite of death: vitality, passion, transgression, and the strength to continue in spite of the difficulties (the spider), the pains, and the defeats. The dimensions are directly proportional to the pathos.
Scorpio: You live in Milan, so you must know something about Ukraine. For example, there are a lot of people from my country working there. And of course Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan.
Enzo: For us, nations don't exist — only from a purely political point of view. We hope not to disappoint you, but for us it's not that important. He's just a soccer player; what makes a great cultural community is ideas, and you have a lot to offer. I think the West will have to reckon with its own hypocrisy: the world belongs to everyone, not only to the West. And I think football is a puppet show of the rich. So pay attention..!
Scorpio: Do you like football? Are you an Inter or AC Milan fan?
Frank: EH EH EH!!!! Whether I'm an Inter fan — it would be better not to say. But I can say that Shevchenko is a great player (did you see the goal he scored against Deportivo last Tuesday?... Fantastic). But you know, the president of AC Milan is our Prime Minister... who makes us pay taxes... who increases the prices and lowers the wages... I just can't be on his side... Fortunately, music is not politics. LONG LIVE ROCK'N'ROLL!!!