Akiko Kiyama is a classically trained musician turned electronic music composer and live performer. Akiko splits her time between Berlin and Tokyo. Akikos first album, Seven Years marks a culmination of her personal journey into sound. This journey began in 2001 when Akiko found herself in an emotional slump. Akiko recollects at that time, i was totally empty. Everyday i was crying. Her only solace was to recharge herself with music. Akiko began reflecting on her relationship with music. She started to have a strong desire to really understand music more intimately. It was at this point that she promised herself to make music. Akiko began composing techno and performing live in Tokyo in 2002. Her first solo EP "Dimension", released on Sud Electronic in October 2004, which got great reviews by top world class DJ's. And in November 2005, one of her tracks was licensed by M-NUS ,and was selected by Richie Hawtin in his well received mix; "DE9 Transitions". She has also released music on labels such as Contexterrrior, op.disc, Safari Electronique, Revolver, and, of course, District of Corruption. Kiyamas last DoC record hit #1 on the Cisco Distribution (Japan) charts for Techno. Seven Years is a milestone for Akiko. Her music has brought her all across Japan, Europe and North America already. Seven Years also shows the depth and range which encompasses her composition. The album opens with Hakobi which is a minimal and concentrated sans kick journey. The 2 club stormers of the album are Ant and I Was Weak in the Knees which present a much stronger side of her production. Seven Years continues into very unique places. Seven Years is sometimes obscure, sometimes confusing but never boring. Isotope is a very crunchy percussion driven number. Scattered is a very optly named song with synths modulating in and out of key and features the Japanese Shinto flute, in ode to her father whom plays this instrument. Bite a Plum moves into softer spaces to draw the listener in with complex percussions and spacey melodies. Let Me Burn Your Book is a rumbling subbass demon with minimal, fluxtuating percussions. Kebko in the Picture has a perfect energy with hyper modern percussion with potentially Sahko influences. Sirsana also has very chic miniature percussion songs which drive an almost disco bass line. You Wont Speak to Me has synth leads which seem to rise and fall in pitch artificially almost perfectly demonstrating a sense of personal frustration surrounding the subject matter. The Seven Years ends with The Innocent, a truly unique, meticulous song. The Innocent features traditional Japanese string and percussion while mixed with sweeping pads and almost jazzy hooks.