Record Review, Rival Consoles, Helvetica
Posted on 27th Feb 09 by Contributor | 
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Artist: Rival ConsolesAuthor: Paul Murphy Purveyor of intelligent dance music" Rival Consoles" is 21"year old Ryan Lee West from Leicester in the Midlands of England. After having supported his city neighbours and label comrades Kyte on an extensive European tour in November 2008" West locked himself away all winter to finish his first full"length album" [...]
Artist: Rival Consoles
Author: Paul Murphy
Purveyor of intelligent dance music" Rival Consoles" is 21"year old Ryan Lee West from Leicester in the Midlands of England. After having supported his city neighbours and label comrades Kyte on an extensive European tour in November 2008" West locked himself away all winter to finish his first full"length album" set to see the light of day in mid 2009. In the meantime fans of his debut The Decadent EP will be happy to know that Erased Tapes Records have just released an exclusive 4"track 7" single / download bundle "Helvetica" playing classical against dance music.
Influenced by impressionists like Claude Debussy and modern electronic artists such as Autechre and Daft Punk" West has created a unique signature sound for Rival Consoles. A playful and brutal mix of electronic beats" emotive piano melodies and warm synth string arrangements creating solitude interrupted by the uncertainty and unpredictability from the coupling of experimentation and abandonment. Traditional concepts quickly become null and void on this EP.
The senses are quickly thrown from the stability created by the opening dysfunctional piano lullaby" on opening title track Helvetica" as drum and bass beats take hold and move the song from concert hall reflections to post"modern underground rave. Indie is dead rises from the ashes of deathly chaos with a post"apocalyptic lament and saddened goodbye to indie" a homage to fallen heroes. Violins lead Holste in a glowing response to the lament before familiar dance beats and a punchy over"driven bass synth herald in the new wave of sound.
The final song on the EP" Seventeen "IO RMX"" is in full"on party mode" a celebration perhaps. Although this EP was not recorded as a concept piece" like many compilations of classical pieces it could easily be interpreted as such" not so surprising seeing as this guy has also repeatedly performed at the Tate Museum.
Drop"d rating: 7/10