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Rival Consoles

Tracklist
1. Pulses of Information
2. Coda
3. Sudden Awareness of Now

Recorded live on October 4, 2023 in Chicago, IL.

Rival Consoles is
Synthesis + Composition | Ryan Lee West

Directed by | Austin Isaac Peters
Director of Photography | Tom Conway
Editor + Colorist | Elly Tier
Camera Operation | Matt Tyrpin, Justin Kenney, Kevin Van Egeren
Audio Mix + Master | Rick Fritz
Concert Capture | Vanessa Valadez
Photography | Calla Flanagan
Program Manager | Ally Henreid
Legal | Chris Watkins

Rival Consoles, the moniker of Ryan Lee West, is an electronic musician from England who creates driving, experimental dance tracks primarily with analog equipment. West has always searched for new ways to approach his synthesizers. Over the course of his career, his music has ranged from hard edged IDM (intelligent dance music) to more overtly club-oriented electro-house.

West made his debut in 2007 as Aparatec with the glitchy, acid-tinged “Vemeer”. Later in 2007, he premiered his Rival Consoles moniker with his EP, “Decadent”, which combined galloping breakbeats with increasingly complex and dramatic synthesizer melodies and arrangements. As West has matured as an artist, his work has become more conceptual, with works like 'Howl' (2015) consisting of intricate compositions focusing on a restricted amount of sounds, and 'Overflow' (2021) focusing on the societal effects of technology and social media. West's most recent album, 'Now Is' (2022) takes a more minimalist route, blending acoustic and electronic instruments.

It was an honor to witness Rival Consoles' painterly, atmospheric production style first hand.  Watching West daisy-chain effects pedals and modular synths feels akin to watching a master  execute a masterpiece out of a palette of stuttering synths, sparse rhythms, and reverberating flourishes.

We’re very grateful to share this special performance from Rival Consoles on Audiotree From Nothing!