Kiasmos + Rival Consoles at The Colston Hall in Bristol on 12 September 2017
Kiasmos + Rival Consoles will perform at The Colston Hall in Bristol on Tuesday 12 September 2017
Masterminded by Janus Rasmussen of electro-pop outfit Bloodgroup and BAFTA-winning composer Ólafur Arnalds, Kiasmos “take the straight-and-true trajectory of traditional minimal techno, and embellish it with strings, piano and a classical sense of grandeur” (Drowned In Sound). Pared-down yet soaring and textured, this experimental Icelandic duo deliver “a beauty as arresting as their own stark Atlantic hinterland” (Clash).
London-based producer Ryan Lee West, better known as Rival Consoles, is a master of “haunting, emotive electronic-music based storytelling” (Pitchfork). Since joining Erased Tapes – the label’s first ever signing – West has gained a reputation for making thoughtful, atmospheric electronica that spans a wide spectrum of musical ideas. He has performed at the Tate, the V&A Museum, and at festivals across the world including Moogfest, Decibel and Berghain’s Pop-Kultur Festival.
Part of Erased Tapes is ten
Over the last ten years, the record label Erased Tapes has nurtured avant-garde artists from all around the world whilst remaining genre-defying and truly independent. This September the label takes over Colston Hall to celebration of ten years of their unique music.
Kiasmos
Kiasmos is an Icelandic minimalist techno duo formed by multi-instrumentalists/producers Ólafur Arnalds and Janus Rasmussen. They released their eponymous debut album in 2014 on Erased Tapes, followed by an EP ‘Swept’ in 2015, receiving much acclaim for both collections. Experimenting with a variety of acoustic instruments, synthesisers and tape delays, the collaboraton allows them to explore the crossover between their varying influences, finding middle ground between Ólafur’s more acoustic, piano-based solo work and Janus’s synth-heavy electro pop.
Arnalds has previously drummed for metal bands Fighting Shit and Celestine, and won a BAFTA in 2014 for his work on popular TV show Broadchurch. Rasmussen is a member of Bloodgroup, and has worked with the band Byrta.
Rival Consoles
London-based producer Ryan Lee West, better known under the name Rival Consoles, is notable for making synthesisers sound human and atmospheric. With the release of his ‘Odyssey’ and ‘Sonne’ EPs, West has gained a reputation for making thoughtful electronica that spans a wide spectrum of musical ideas. Foremost a guitarist, growing up listening to rock rather than club music, his last full-length album ‘Howl’ sees West strive towards finding a more personal balance between music for home listening and larger spaces.
August 5th 2016 marks the release of Ryan’s new 34-minute, 6-track mini album ‘Night Melody’, born out of and shaped by long hours working into the night. It’s nocturnal in sound; mysterious in the way that the early hours so often are.
It’s rarely reported that Rival Consoles was Erased Tapes’ very first signing, with a CDR of early demos under the name Aparatec that inspired founder Robert Raths to start the label. Indeed West has more in common with his contemporaries Nils Frahm and Peter Broderick than some might think. His consistent desire to create a more organic, humanised sound sees West often draft early ideas on traditional, acoustic instruments like the guitar or the piano; forming pieces that capture a sense of songwriting behind the electronics.
Erased Tapes
Spanning over ten years, Erased Tapes has nurtured avant-garde artists from all around the world whilst remaining genre-defying and truly independent. Founded by German-born Robert Raths in 2007, the London-based label has grown and extended across the world with satellite offices in Los Angeles and Berlin. Artists signed to the label feature Nils Farhm, Kiasmos, Penguin Cafe, Rival Consoles, Allred & Broderick, Masayoshi Fujita, Daniel Brandt, Douglas Dare
2015 saw BBC 6 Music radio presenter Mary Anne Hobbs stage an Erased Tapes evening featuring Nils Frahm and A Winged Victory For The Sullen at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the prestigious BBC Prom. It was the fastest selling ticket of the entire season. Shortly after Erased Tapes was awarded Best Small Label 2015 at the AIM Awards.
On February 5th 2017 Erased Tapes opened the doors to its new East London home, marking the 10th anniversary by introducing fans and the public to the new Erased Tapes Sound Gallery.
Tickets are £18.00 including booking fees.