Aki Tsuyuko's Empty Talk dropped in 2017, not 2016 like some sites say. Japan release, self-released and through Enban, limited to 400 vinyl copies. Art by Ippei Matsui, silk-screened jacket-cool touch, makes each copy feel a bit unique. Mastered by Ztom Motoyama, recorded at Ongakushitsu. Feels niche, but that's the point. Album's under Electronic, but calling it just that is lazy. It's Ambient, yeah, but also Abstract, Experimental. Like someone took field recordings from a half-remembered dream and ran them through old tape machines. Tracks like "Rain And Dew" start soft-dripping textures, distant echoes. Minimal, but not boring. You lean in. Then "I Think In A Hollow" hits-7:59 of slow-building unease. Layers stack, then vanish. Feels like watching fog roll over concrete. "Another Lake" is the long one-over 13 minutes. Could've dragged, but it doesn't. Pacing's tight even when nothing much seems to happen. There's tension underneath. Not melodic, not rhythmic, but still pulls you along. "Kazenoko" is short, sharp. Almost like a glitch, but warm.

Like a CD skipping on purpose. Design's clean, credits are clear. No big label polish here, which works. The whole thing feels honest. But it's not for everyone. If you want hooks or beats, look elsewhere. Even as ambient, it's demanding. Needs attention. Some tracks blur together after a while-"Make A Detour" and "Moriji" blend unless you're really listening. What I liked? The atmosphere. It's cold but not sterile. Feels human. The production choices-tape hiss, subtle shifts-show care. What I didn't? Length of some pieces. Could've trimmed 5-10 mins total. And zero vocals-fine for the genre, but a whisper or breath might've added depth. Funny thing-title's Empty Talk, but there's no talk at all. Maybe that's the joke. Or maybe it's saying silence speaks louder. Either way, it sticks with you. Played it late one night, forgot it was on, then realized I hadn't moved in 20 minutes. That's how you know it's working.