Artwork: Eric Mattson
Let us rewind back to the first edition of the MUTEK festival in 2000. As then unknown, Montreal based electronic musician, MARC LECLAIR makes a lasting impression with his debut live performance under the guise of AKUFEN. As they say, the rest is history...MARC LECLAIR has gone on to release singles on labels that include PERLON, TRAPEZ, BACKGROUND and FORCE INC. plus remixes for Massive Attack, Thomas Dolby, Cabaret Voltaire, Richie Hawtin/Concept and countless others. Over the years, LECLAIR has continued to maintain a close and supportive relationship to the MUTEK organization, so it only makes sense that we have come to this point with the anticipated release of MARC LECLAIR’s first studio album on MUTEK_REC since 2002’s critically acclaimed full-length “My Way”. “Musique pour 3 femmes enceintes” is not an AKUFEN project. It is however, LECLAIR’s most engaging and fascinating recording to date. “Musique pour 3 femmes enceintes” counts in at over 70 minutes – a single composition broken down into nine time-coded tracks that work as well together as individually. Initially inspired by his wife’s pregnancy and three of his friends at that time ‘with child’. “Musique pour 3 femmes enceintes” (translated as “Music for 3 Pregnant Women”) is LECLAIR’s audio realization of the beauty and phenomenon of giving birth. A seamless evolution of soothing sound invention, the album first moves us through the first months of pregnancy; a tense yet blissful state interpreted by scattered beats and tranquil synth pads that sooth as well as Brian Eno ever did. Midway through, LECLAIR adds the warmth of guitars as they weave within his signature micro-sampling charm. Finally, giving birth has never sounded so good; the 4/4 takes control and LECLAIR moves into one of his most blissful deep-techno crooners since “Skidoos”. A definitive release from one of electronic music’s most illustrious members.
Tracklist