Monday 1 January 2001

Biography

The release of Oranges and Lemons signals a return to the world of electronic dance music for The MFA, kicking off a new phase of techno-pop-rave inspired beat making for the people. The pair’s new EP on Cologne's renowned Traum Recordings, acknowledges the past and looks to a better future while providing a roller coaster ride through club ready rave bell hypnosis, epic choral four on the floor euphoria, and melodic fun house.


The MFA are back doing what they do best (producing and - in the current climate gearing up for - live shows) with renewed aspirations to claim the throne at the head of the UK live dance dynasty. You honestly don’t know what you’ve missed until it’s gone, and after downing tools quite a few years ago, the pandemic lockdown has also made clear to the London based duo what they’ve missed too. The MFA missed The MFA, they missed the music, and they missed the clubs. With the machines restarted, the studio recreated, beers plus salt and vinegar quavers at the ready, they got back to work to produce their latest and greatest output.


They earned their reputation with a wide-ranging musical output, always underpinned by an essential pop sensibility and a healthy dose of that early 90s spirit. Rising above the limitations of any one genre, they kicked off proceedings with the lush deep filtered house of their debut 'The Difference it Makes', before roaming off through epic trance ('Motherload') and belching acid ('The Sphinx'), electro-breaks ('Disco to Break') and comedy rave ('Rinse Time'), re-imagined progressive house (‘2 Billion Year Journey’) and a techno rave anthem (‘Overhang’), with a spot of clownstep thrown in for good measure. This eclectic approach, harking back to a better time before the purists and trainspotters kicked all the fun out of dance music, took them to the unashamed New Order-esque pop of single 'Throw it Back (We Will Destroy You)', edging them that little bit nearer to their destiny.


Along the way their first release ‘The Difference it Makes’ drew the attention of Border Community and Kompakt. Then Ellen Allien snapped up their 'Zone Day' EP for her legendary Bpitch Control label. Allien also let them go to work on a remix of 'Magma', taken from her 'Thrills' album, which the pair can add to their already pretty impressive string of remix credentials, including EMI France's Telepopmusik, Domino's Junior Boys, and Boxer Recordings.


But playing live is really "what The MFA are all about", a point which the duo are intent on proving once again with each and every one of their club appearances when lockdown allows. Their party-friendly sound has already tamed an impressive array of club legends, including Rex (Paris), Berghain, Tresor, WMF & Maria (Berlin), Bed & Space (Miami), Nitsa & The Loft (Barcelona), as well as festivals Sonar and Creamfields.


Now they are back, like musical superheroes waging a daily battle against the dull and the worthy. The world really needs The MFA right now.