Phil Kieran is switching gears again.

After three years of almost total dedication to his critically acclaimed Alloy Mental project (www.myspace.com/alloymental), its time for the Belfast DJ and producer to refocus his talents to making more global techno gems. Combining the raw, compelling beats of Basic Channel with the effortless grooves of Funk D'Void, Phil Kieran's music contrasts darkness and light, is both uplifting and unsettling. Expect more.

Having had his acid baptism at David Holmes' seminal Sugar Sweet nights, Phil served his apprenticeship with a ten year residency at legendary Irish club, Shine, but commitments spanning four continents means that he is more often found in an airport lounge bound for Barcelona or Buenos Aires than in belfast these days. Summer festivals beckon, as well as the now regular jaunts to the likes of Fabric, London and Watergate, Berlin.

Phil Kieran's discography is now as impressive as his collection of passport stamps, with Mute, Skint, Soma, Virgin and many more all offering 12's and remixes over the years. This prolific out put looks unlikely finish soon as Phil gears up for more releases including 'I Think I'm A Monster' on Cocoon, but also the debut single for his own label. Flying Cabbage looks set to be one of the essential European electronica imprints, as the first release, Phil's own massive 'Pinhole of Light' single demonstrates, backed up with an almighty Jesper Dahlback remix. Like Kieran's DJ sets it will be, as always, a unique take on modern underground dance music.

http://www.myspace.com/philkieran

Though Donnacha Costello first began producing music back in 1989, it wasn't until late 2000 that he globally emerged as a truly remarkable producer. Long recognized as one of Dublin, Ireland's most talented producers, Costello may have began his musical career in 1989, but he first began to dabble in minimal electronic music around 1996 after completing his philosophy degree and immersing himself in the concepts of Steve Reich and John Cage. In fact, his inspiration led him away from Dublin to New York City, where he took his minimal take on electronic music a step farther, integrating the dub aesthetics and crackle sounds practiced by artists such as Pole. In 2000, he started his own label, Minimise, where he released a trio of EPs before catching the eye of mammoth German experimental techno label Force Inc., who asked him to record an album for their label. Embracing new software-driven production technologies, Costello spent summer 2000 creating the music that would appear later that year on the Growing Up in Public album. Benefiting from the massive reach and prestige of Force Inc., the Dublin artist catapulted from little-known cult status to one of the most exciting up-and-coming producers in the experimental techno realm.

Donnacha Costello is many things to many people. In the past he has been:

Child, Brother, Pianist, Teenager, Guitarist, Student, Techno Musician Philosopher, Ex-Patriot, Label Owner, Audio Engineer, Bereaved, Ambient Musician, Visual Artist, Techno Musician, University Lecturer, Composer for Film, Experimental Musician, Techno Musician, Husband

He has been releasing records since 1996 and his talent has long been recognised by those in the know including Johnny Marr (Ex-Smiths) and Richie Hawtin. The list of Djs who support his work reads like a Who's Who of techno, many of whom have licensed his work for their mix cds, most recently including Ricardo Villalobos, Luciano, Magda, Tiefschwarz and Josh Wink.

As a live performer, and now as a DJ, Costello regularly performs around the globe from Europe to the U.S.A. to Japan and runs his renowned minimise record label from his hometown of Dublin.

On the 11th of april Donnacha will be appearing at ::NEXSUS:: in the Bailey Enniscorthy for a live set.