Passepartout Duo, the sonic partnership between pianist Nicoletta Favari and percussionist Christopher Salvito, thrives on constant travel, seeking out new collaborations as well as inspirational settings for recording and performance. Since their inception in 2015 the Duo’s globetrotting has gained momentum, taking their hand built electronic instruments cross continents on buses, trains and in dusty vans then occasionally pausing for thought. So far the Passepartout Duo bespoke world tour has taken in over fifty countries from China to Tunisia, Peru to Austria and still it weaves onwards.
Along the way they’ve documented their journey with a sequence of fine albums, each shaped by locational reflections and instrumental invention. ‘Vis-à-Vis’ from 2020 featured the glockboard and other foraged sound makers while 2021’s ‘Daylighting’ integrated textiles with synthesiser interfaces (yes a ‘fuzzy synth’ and ‘limina-phone’ do now exist). Last year they recorded ‘Radio Yugawara’ with renowned ambient partnership Inoyama Land in Japan while ‘Argot’ saw them fusing contributions from musicians they’d met on their travels into an exquisite electro-acoustic soundscape.
This year’s project though looks to reflect their ongoing transitory lifestyle and music making more directly. ‘Pieces From Places’ is a cumulatively building twelve piece sonic travelogue from Passepartout Duo, a compilation mapped out by the monthly release of a track. First stop is ‘From Taipei’ available via Bandcamp and streaming platforms from 27th March. Composed, recorded and filmed at the Taipei Treasure Hill Artist Village, Taiwan in December 2024 it features Favari and Salvito each playing a taishogoto, a Japanese stringed instrument with a zinging dulcimer-like voice.
‘From Taipei’ is a sprightly piece, an interweave of dancing patterns which gradually swells with harmonic urgency. Slowing to a lullabying rest the track ends with dreamy electronic tones, crooned from one of the Duo’s hand-built gizmos. Both spacious and thoughtful, this opening ‘Pieces From Places’ episode leaves you looking onwards to the next instalment.
More about ‘Pieces From Places‘ and the download of ‘From Taipei‘ go to the Passepartout Duo Bandcamp page HERE
