Not Me But Us have released a gorgeous new EP, Piano Twoness. It marks the one-year anniversary of their critically acclaimed debut album, Two.
It finds the Italy duo – comprising Naples-based composer and multi-instrumentalist Bruno Bavota and electronic composer and producer Fabrizio Somma (aka K-Conjog) – taking an introspective turn.
They have revisited four tracks from the album and reinterpreted them in a more acoustic, piano-focused style. It offers a fresh perspective on their music, while maintaining the emotional depth that defines Not Me But Us.
Shimmering Italian electronica… they create great orchestral washes of slow-moving sound
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Pianos to the fore
Each piano has a distinct voice; each of the four tracks has a story to tell. The ambient vibe of ‘Buildings’ blends the warmth of the piano with subtle electronic textures, the perfect bridge between the electronic influences of Two and the acoustic focus of the EP.
‘Nocturnal Humans’ was recorded on a rainy day, with the sound of rain captured in the background. The solo piano plays softly, as if in conversation with the precipitation.
‘No Words’ is a solo piano piece recorded at night in Bruno’s summer studio, using a beautifully aged Schiller upright piano. The night-time setting imbues the piece with a sense of quiet intimacy and provides a moment of pure, unfiltered emotion.
EP closer is ‘Us’, a short but poignant solo piano track enriched by field recordings collected by Fabrizio in a public park. The playful sounds of children in the background create a bittersweet sense of nostalgia, encapsulating the essence of connection and memory.
Fabio and Bruno told me: “We felt the need to celebrate Two on the first anniversary of its release. It is, and has been, a very important work for us and we felt it wasn’t time to leave it behind just yet. That’s why we thought of these new versions, blending piano and ambient sounds.”
Memories of a fantastic Not Me But Us performance
I promoted Fabrizio and Bruno at Radio City Social in Chelmsford around the time of their debut LP release. It was a mesmerising show that lives long in my memory. You can read a gig preview amd listen to my interview with the pair here.
In a live setting, the marriage of sound from two artists from two different musical backgrounds was life-affirming and thrilling. It was a joy to see Bruno grooving to his music in an environment quite different to his piano recitals. And Fabrizio, coolness personified, throwing excellent shapes behind his equipment.
Time to come back to the UK, i raga!
It was also the last promotion of mine that my loving dad attended. He died well before his time in January 2025. While electronica wasn’t his favourite music, he still attended the show to support his son, as ever.
Piano Twoness is out now on Sonic Cathedral and is available on all platforms.
The next live promotion presented by Even Butterflies Make A Sound is electronica whizzkid Simon Heartfield on 3 May 2025 at Radio City Social. Read my interview with Simon here. It’s a dream bill for techno lovers and advance, extremely limited, tickets are a cost-of-living defying £6.50 and are available here.
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Andy McCulloch
I am a music writer, blogger, and promoter. I originally established Even Butterflies Make A Sound to re-publish music reviews I published last century. However, the blog has taken on a life of its own and is the better for that. Please enjoy not so responsibly.
