Description
In the realm of electronic music, British artist Rival Consoles has dabbed exquisite hues onto the genre’s canvas. Known otherwise as Ryan Lee West, the London-based maestro is celebrated for his eclectic palette of ambient, shoegaze, minimal techno, and cinematic sounds. The zenith of this fusion came to life in his ninth studio album ‘Landscape from Memory’ released in 2025.
Drawn from the reservoir of his collected aural sketches, West found himself on a slow voyage into memory after the release of the 2022 album ‘Now Is’. It was a deliberate abstraction from the comfort zone of his self-built Hackney studio that inspired a creative upheaval, eventually leading to the genesis of ‘Landscape from Memory’. Qualities of revisiting, reigniting, and integration dominate the album, making it one of the most enigmatic works from the artisan till date.
West’s strategic arrangement of sound resonates with a painter’s thoughtful brushstrokes. The masterpieces created are emblems of his intricate artistic acumen. For instance, ‘In Reverse’ sets the tone of Landscape from Memory with its synchronism of plucky tones and crisp sound sweeps. It is as if West is engaging in a breviloquent, visually invigorating conversation with his past creations, influencing them in unexplored dimensions.
Simultaneously, West’s impressive remixing prowess is discernible in the album. Inspired by other giants in the industry – Jon Hopkins, Ólafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm, among others – he employs a unique cinematic approach. This is prominent in tracks like ‘Gaivotas’ and ‘Nocturne,’ with synth voicings that are stretched to aesthetic apexes and an enveloping ambiance that channels the intangible forms of smoke.
Interestingly, the album also brings to the fore West’s background as a guitarist. The fragmented notes of an acoustic guitar weaving through the digital synths on ‘Gaivotas’ showcase a skilful bridging of traditional and contemporary. Another striking example is ‘Catherine,’ a dance track dedicated to his partner, which stands out with its almost impromptu rhythm enriched by understated elegance.
Beyond Rival Consoles‘ evolution as a musician, his work has always tied in tightly with static and moving visuals. ‘Articulation,’ rolled out in 2020, was shaped by sketches from his personal notebook. His experiments also stretch into programming particle animations and video editing, which were instrumental in shaping the multi-dimensional persona of his live A/V shows since 2015.
Unquestionably, Rival Consoles‘ ‘Landscape from Memory’ is a conceptual masterpiece, an album defined by its dynamic exploration of past, present, and future. Peppered with tonal references to environmental sounds and distilled human emotion, it is a testament to West’s extraordinary skill to craft stories sans words, and a celebration of his renewed ardor for his art. Using the album as a time-capsule, West brings forth timeless music that transcends momentary experience, crafting an unforgettable landscape from his memories — a poignant testament to personal resilience and artistic evolution.
