BRUK has announced the reissue of Akufen’s minimal classic Architextures 1-2-3, bringing the three-track microhouse EP to a new audience, more than 25 years on from its original release.
First unveiled on Hautec in 2000, the EP captures a different side of Akufen’s – aka Marc Leclair’s – production style, leaning towards dub techno and minimal house, rather than the sample-heavy sound that would go on to define his work.
‘Most of the Akufen material leans hard into Leclair’s preferred method of dada-ist cut-ups from any and all media, taking Todd Edwards’ unique slant on garage house to the nth degree with a wry humour and mind-frying micro-detail,’ as a press release put it. ‘The Architextures tracks hit differently, finding a cool-headed poise in its channelling of dub techno atmospherics and technoid repetition.’
Based in Montreal, Akufen became widely recognised for productions built around intricate edits and fragmented vocal samples, such as on his 2002 album My Way, which features more than 2,000 samples of radio feed on it.
For the new edition, the recordings have been remastered by Cristobal Urbina at Le Lab Montreal. The reissue also features new artwork by Alfie Allen.
Akufen – Architextures 1-2-3 is out now on BRUK – check it out here.