The Difference It Makes: Remastered and Remixed

Lots of news in one here:

1) We have set up our own record label!

2) The first track is a return of 'The Difference it Makes’ with remixes by Joe Goddard (Hot Chip), Nathan Fake, and us.

It is released on the 28th October, but pre-orders are now open if you'd like a copy. You can do that on Bandcamp or at any good record shop.

Official label blurb to follow...!

This is the debut release on our new label - Deskbound Complex. All tracks have been mastered by Jason Goz at Transition Studios, and will be distributed by Rubadub. The EP features four mixes:

Original MFA Mix
One of Pitchfork’s top 50 tracks of 2004, Resident Advisor described it at the time as,
“Beautiful slices of dubby-tech house with compressed guitars and abstract sliced vocals. From start to finish, the track is minimal in nature. I like it, and I think you will too... The MFA has created something of a hidden gem.”
The record went on to receive support from Gerd Janson, Carl Cox, BLOND:ISH, Sven Väth, James Holden, Michael Mayer, Tim Sweeney, Dusky, Ata, Joseph Capriati, Robag Wruhme, Henry Saiz, Nick Warren, Hernan Cattaneo, Jody Wisternoff, James Grant, Joe Goddard, and more.

Joe Goddard Remix
With plenty of plays from Grammy-nominated Joe Goddard of Hot Chip, it seemed only right to ask him to remix the track. The result is an electro-dance number with a big breakdown and main room appeal.

Nathan Fake Remix
Originally released on James Holden's Border Community, The MFA pay homage with a remix by former labelmate, Nathan Fake – who the duo first met on an internet chat room at the turn of the millennium.

The MFA’s #23 Remix
Reimagined 23 years after it was first written (with a nod to The KLF), the remix pushes the track deeper onto the dancefloor, with a fresh take on the original.

Intro - Utopia

Big news! Having been available on record for a week or so our ‘94 on the floor remix of Intro’s – Utopia is now also available to buy and stream digitally.

It was great fun to be asked by UFC Records to participate in this remix project of a ‘lost’ 90s trance classic. The other remixes by Promising Youngster, Brassica and RIP Bestia are (also) great (too)! Can we say ‘too’ therefore implying we think our remix is great? Yes, we think we can. Enjoy.

A new interview with The MFA on Torture the Artist

Torture the Artist have interviewed us and you can read it on their site! You can hear about our approach to tea, pizza and studio politics.




...
Amid the pulsating universe of electronic music, few duos return with as much charm, wit, and sheer musical mischief as The MFA. Composed of Alastair Douglas and Rhys Evans, the British duo broke ground in the early 2000s with their eclectic blend of Indie House, IDM, and genre-bending electronic sounds. After a lengthy hiatus, they made a triumphant return to the scene in 2021, much to the delight of long-time fans and a fresh wave of listeners. Known for their playful yet thought-provoking take on music and life, Alastair and Rhys have resumed creating tracks that reflect their roots in ’90s and early ’00s electronic music, all while pushing toward new, forward-thinking territory.


Read the rest of the interview here.

The MFA - 'Ormont': New track out today

We’re back with a brand new track, ‘Ormont’, featured on today’s ‘Tour De Traum’ album! 🎶 Born from our live sets, this one is tailor-made for the club. 🕺💃

Huge thanks for all the support and radio play—it means the world to us! 🌟 Keep spreading the MFA love! 🙏

New Single - Specific Ocean

We have a new release coming out on Lost Language on the 3rd November 2023! We can't write it better than the press release:

"THE MFA and Lost Language go back a good 20 years - from sweaty nights at Turnmills, to West London pub hang outs, and a subsequent 2004 release on our sister label PRECINCT, with the mighty MOTHERLOAD / SPHINX. Fast forward to 2023, and after some mutual love in the insta DM's and a very happy accident with some stems, we've finally bagged a mother-fucking original, the wonderful SPECIFIC OCEAN.

Fresh from releasing their debut album "Lights Out" on Traum Schallplatten, and an accompanying live show peppered with Border Community and Precinct fan faves, our boys Ali and Rhys are clearly in fine fettle. The MFA make the best noises, and we're spoilt here. A cinematic intro gives way to a huge gated riff, the rave dial turned all the way up (natch), before the wobbliest of whistles has us all floating off into the ether. 

To say we are bullish on this fast n' fresh underground trance sound would be an understatement, so to have two of our current favourite producers form a parallel tag team is a dream come true, with Claire's Accessories (Underzone, Harmless) and Astral Bandit (Area 127, FEED) morphing into ASTRAL ACCESSORIES for this very special two headed snake of a remix, which "Claire" described as Post Apocalyptic Balearic. Amen."

First MFA gig for 15 years!

Come and see us play live with loads of other great artists on the 19th August in Cologne for the TraumSchallplatten 25 years anniversary party. We are really excited to be playing our music live again, and especially to be going back to Cologne which we have great memories of. Hope to see faces new and old! You can get tickets here

The MFA - Live at Sonar 2006

Throw back Thursday way, way back to Sónar Festival 2006. Thanks to Neil Walker we have tracked down (some) of our live set from the main stage of Sonar 2006. You can listen here on The MFA Soundcloud. This gig was a real highlight for us but equally as terrifying as it was exciting playing in front of the most people we had ever seen plus coming on after Goldfrapp and before Miss Kittin!

There are loads of MFA era one tracks in there such as 'The Difference It Makes', 'Overhang', Dextro remix and 'Motherload' plus some of the ideas and sketches that became later MFA tracks more recently. Hope you enjoy!

The MFA · The MFA - Live at Sonar 2006 By Night Club Stage Barcelona 2006 - 06 - 17