Aalko - No Man Is an Island (2018)

Kebko Music is pleased to announce the debut album by Aalko, a new project by label founder Akiko Kiyama. Renowned for her minimal techno track featured in Richie Hawtin’s seminal DE9 Transitions album, the Japanese producer reveals her another side under this new alias for No Man Is An Island. The project has already created a stir as Aalko has garnered support from Gilles Peterson on his BBC 6 Music radio show and premiered a live performance at MUTEK's Tokyo launch, where she drew the audience into an inspiring frenzy.

Aalko is a culmination of Kiyama’s recent practices in a wider musical spectrum that go beyond the confines of her minimalistic techno characteristics. It conjures her distinctive soundscape where a variety of styles coexists: she demonstrates her knack for breaks, ambient and irregular time signatures, her acute ears for unadulterated tone and texture of sounds standing out in sharp relief.

There are floor-oriented tracks that work wonders in a DJ context. "Body & Soul" is an erratic rhythm experiment jumping between several beat styles. "Mixture" offers Kiyama's unique interpretation on syncopated dynamics of breaks. "Sweep you Away" is a mind-altering affair with an incessant ever-changing synth riff.

In contrast, No Man Is An Island features open-ended creations free of dance floor functionality. An unquantised loop produces a peculiar stuttering groove with ominous sounds bobbing up and down on "Turn To Turn." "Audio Sketch" depicts an urgent soundscape with fast arpeggios streaking over lumbering bass pulsation one after another. "Reaching Out" is a freeform electronic jam over a downtempo beat. Akin to Kiyama's Ophelia album, "Ground Life" and "Only Its Voice Rings Out" represent her kitschy idiosyncrasy and "Condensation" ends the album on a playful note.

These nine tracks reflect Kiyama's native inclination to an authentic unadulterated sonic quality. They give the nod to her peculiar self full of sonic idiosyncrasies, showing no fear of breaking accepted conventions.