Rival Consoles is the alias of Ryan Lee West, a prolific electronic musician famed for his ability to craft complex soundscapes layered with equal measures of melancholy and euphoria. Fresh from an uncharacteristically long break from production, West has rejuvenated his passion by repurposing previously disregarded musical scraps and ditching his trusty personal studio, drawing inspiration from the process of crafting tracks while on the move instead. West’s revamped approach helped birth Landscape From Memory, his ninth studio album on which fleeting feelings of ecstasy are interspersed with haunting moments of uncertainty in typically eerie Rival Consoles fashion.

The record starts off strong as West glides through the opener ‘In Reverse’, easing listeners in with elegant synths before rising up to an understated climax. ‘Catherine’ follows: one of the album’s more stripped-back cuts, it builds from a simple melody and drumbeat combination into a glistening crescendo, justifying its lead single status, and making a fitting tribute to West’s partner. ‘Jupiter’ and ‘In A Trance’ form a rather dreamy back-to-back pairing, and West’s ingenious ability to transport listeners to new realms has seldom been better evidenced than on ‘Soft Gradient Beckons’, a track strong enough to imagine as the soundtrack of a sci-fi epic, or blaring from mounted speakers in an east London warehouse.

It’s no secret that West has been one of the most consistently innovative electronic artists in the UK for nearly two decades now. While his unique artistry shines through in a handful of moments, Landscape From Memory is hindered by a multitude of tracks which fail to leave a lasting impact. For every high point on the LP, there is an ambient offering that, while passable, refuses to leave much of an impression after several listens.

Rival Consoles: Landscape From Memory is released by Erased Tapes on Friday 4 July; main picture: Eva Vermandel.