"Before starting this collaboration, Maurizio Bianchi and Daniele Veronese had been in contact for a long time, united by a bond of mutual appreciation. Daniele Veronese - a well-known musician in the electro-acoustic and electronic area - has been on the scene for a long time with various monikers (Tastiera, Outdoor Sex, Susje Ristch), and grew up listening to Maurizio Bianchi, Tasaday and the Italian industrial music of the 80s. Like many, he was fascinated by the aura of M.B., a reserved, elusive character, who suddenly escaped from the scene for a long time and then returned just as suddenly.

"M.B. and I are part of two different generations (I'm 44, Maurizio is 68)" recalls Veronese, "but somehow I've always felt on the same wavelength as him. I'm interested in his obsessive/compulsive way of making music". Thinking about this kinship, Daniele started to develop the idea of a collaboration while he was working on a track based on the number 8, a key number in Christian symbolism (the eighth day represents the transfiguration), in Taoism (the eight forces of nature resulting from the cosmic interaction of Yin and Yang) and in ancient pagan religions (placed in a horizontal position, the 8 is the symbol of Infinity). 

"I then asked M.B. if he was willing to work on a track on the concept of the number 8 with an 8-minute track" continues Veronese, "intrigued by what his interpretation would be. He replied that he would accept the challenge but that he would abandon the idea of transfiguration to work on the theme of 'completeness'". Let's give the floor to Maurizio Bianchi: "In the abstract conception, the number 8 means going beyond perfection, when reaching such a status is currently impossible... But it will be after the messianic dominion...". 

And so this project was born.

"8" is not only a musical and conceptual exercise, but also an intergenerational bridge, on which Bianchi and Veronese met, each with a new awareness. Asbestos Digit cannot but be extremely proud to host the imposing figure of Maurizio Bianchi for the first time in its roster, and to find once again on its path the sharp soul of Daniele Veronese." - Andrea Prevignano