Bochum Welt

Italian electro/techno composer Gianluigi Di Costanzo is the name behind the Milan-based Bochum Welt, whose atmospheric electro releases were quick in establishing him as an artist at the edge of experimental electronica. Inspired by the '70s Düsseldorf scene through such figures as Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider (both of Kraftwerk), as well as artists such as Brian Eno and Depeche Mode, Di Costanzo released his first work as Bochum Welt on the Italian Trance Communications label starting in 1994, at the age of 21. Focusing mostly on acid and more typical floorbang techno, Di Costanzo worked as often on atmospheric electro and ambient, little of which saw release until many years later (most notably on the Phial EP). Though Italy is hardly a stronghold of techno experimentation, Di Costanzo's early Trance 12"s attracted the attention of Aphex Twin Richard James, whose Rephlex imprint reissued several tracks from the Bochum Welt back catalog as the Scharlach Eingang EP in 1995. Di Costanzo followed up his Rephlex debut the following year with Module 2, a full-length for the label. Desktop Robotics followed in 1997, trailed two years later by Martians and Spaceships. He also released material through his own label, Kromode, and the Swiss Axodya label. His releases continued strongly into the new millennium, including Kissing a Robot Goodbye and the double album R.O.B. (Robotic Operating Buddy). He has also worked with Thomas Dolby's Headspace and Beatnik Inc., the companies that created multimedia productions for Stephen Spielberg and David Bowie, among others. ~ Sean Cooper & John Bush, Rovi