Donnacho Costello - Colorseries

Say hello to concept techno

In 2004, Dublin’s Donnacho Costello uncorked a rapid-fire barrage of singles which showed the huge amoeba of techno releases the virtue of shape and form. Having already gained a philosophy degree before music studies led to meeting electronic pioneers Cage, Reich and Stockhausen, Donnacho started his Minimise label and let fly with ten 12” vinyl releases known as the Colorseries. These now-iconic singles acted as both electronic dance music homages and startling personal explorations with acid house, classic techno and other strains used as stream-of-consciousness springboards to spectacular acid mutations such as Grape, whose B-side boasted a jaw-dropping seven-minute beatless intro, or Orange, which recalls the steadily rising euphoria of early Weatherall.

Crucially, these marvellous outings were created on analogue equipment without computers, illustrated by the sheer sonic depth of tracks such as Pistachio and its old-school percussion. The ambient excursions of the Cocoa twinset reach beyond the dancefloor, the seduction of which this man made a science long ago. Donnacho has since gained a sizable following, so this CD of reedited and remastered highlights of his breakthrough work comes as a major service to anyone, from original fans to those sticking to electronic music in its purest emotional form.

Minimise | MIN 031

Reviewed by Kris Needs
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