Donnacha Costello

Picture the scene. It's a dark room. Lots of serious looking guys. One serious looking bloke hunched over a glowing Powerbook laptop. Waves of deep electronica fall from the speakers. Girls are as rare as a snare roll. It's techno, Jim, but but not as we know it.

Dubliner Donnacha Costello is probably Ireland's leading player in the catch-all world of electronica. His recent debut album, Growing Up In Public received rave reviews from followers of the hip and happening world of glitch'n'click - for the confused this can loosely be described as minimal electronic dub. Tonight, though – after a sterling opening electro DJ set from dEcal's Alan – Costello opts for a different sound. The lo-fi bass rumbles have been replaced by warm, expanisve soundscapes that collide perfectly with gentle broken beats. The seamless, hour-long set is reminiscent of Brian Eno circa Music For Airports or the Ambient albums but, obviously, with a contemporary edge. While a lot of pretentious shite is passed off under the 'minimalism' banner, there's something more to Costello's material. His restrained, controlled soundscapes – while probably best experienced in something approaching a museum environment or the safety of home – are well worth the effort. It's a pity the chatterbox crowd didn't think so.