Very welcome return today on Erased Tapes from Rival Consoles with an absolute banger of an LP called Persona. We were lucky enough to be sent a copy a while back and we've played it regularly (and loud) ever since... trust us, it's an album (and a guy) we'll be talking about through the summer nights and beyond.

The title was inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film of the same name, specifically a shot in the opening credits of a child reaching out to touch a woman’s face on a screen, which is shifting between one face and another. This powerful image struck Ryan (Ryan Lee West aka Rival Consoles) and it inspired the album’s main theme — an exploration of the persona. The difference between how we see ourselves and how others see us, the spaces in between; between states, people, light and dark, the inner persona and the outer persona.

Ambitious and hugely smart in it's intricate layering and atmospheric spaces. For our money, he's one of the most emotional electronic music makers around, it's really evocative and has moments of introspection alongside some pretty pounding beats.  

+ Limited Edition Indies Only Double LP format pressed on clear vinyl.