Bleep

Erased Tapes mainstay Rival Consoles delivers a powerful new LP. With his combination of studio production wizardry and techno viscera, the one born Lee West has long been one of the label’s prize possessions. However, Persona - his first full-length since 2015’s Howl - has West pushing himself further than before. The resulting record is one that has as much strength in its quiet moments as it does at its loudest. While tracks like opener ‘Unfolding’ balance the immediacy of Clark with the harmonic clout of Sigur Ros, other moments - the off-the-cuff, Nils Frahm-aping ‘Be Kind’, closer ‘Fragments’ quiet ambience - pack just as much punch with less volume.