MFS (label)
| MFS | |
|---|---|
 Logo of the label |
|
| Active years | 1990 to 2008, reactivated in 2018 |
| founder | Mark Reeder |
| Seat | Berlin |
| Website | www.mfs-berlin.de |
| Sub-label | Flesh, Telemetric |
| Genre (s) | Trance , techno |
MFS ( acronym for M asterminded F or S uccess) is an independent record label from Berlin , which mainly published music from the field of electronic music . British artist Mark Reeder, who lives in Berlin, is the founder of the label . MFS is one of the most important German trance labels. It was initially active until 2008; then Reeder concentrated on his own music production and remix work. Reeder reactivated MFS in 2018 to release the album Fragment by the Chinese band Stolen .
On MFS and the two sub- labels Flesh and Telemetric , over 200 albums, EPs and singles by artists such as Dr. Motte , Paul van Dyk , Cosmic Baby , Mijk van Dijk , Humate , Joe T. Vannelli , Ellen Allien , Denki Groove , DJ Clé and Marco Zaffarano .
history
In December 1990, after the fall of the Berlin Wall , the state Amiga record label Deutsche Schallplatten Berlin followed Mark Reeder's suggestion and had him create a label for electronic dance music, which Reeder called "Masterminded For Success". When the Berlin Wall was still standing, Reeder had already established a working relationship with the Amiga while recording the album "Torture" for the GDR indie band "Die Vision", which would be released by AMIGA / DSB / ZONG.
The name "MFS" was actually derived from the initials of the Ministry for State Security (MfS), the East German secret service, commonly known as the Stasi in the GDR. The label was originally founded by Reeder and the distribution was led by Mirko Whitfield. Reeder brought Torsten Jurk and Matt Craver, who left the label shortly afterwards to become manager of Atari Teenage Riot. After the collapse of DSB and the sale to BMG at the end of 1993, Reeder and Jurk secured all rights to the brand name and catalog, which had originally been financed by DSB.
Although Reeder's original idea was to offer a platform for young, Eastern European artists, since nobody had the music technology, he had to fall back on his West Berlin colleagues. The first artists on the label were friends Paul Browse and Johnny Klimek , known as "Effective Force", followed by VOOV, and then "2 German Latinos" (Gaby Delgado from DAF and artist Saba Komossa) and "Neutron" 9000 " .
MFS soon gained media attention with its "trance" identity and had signed artists such as Cosmic Baby, Mijk van Dijk and Humate in early 1991 and started Paul van Dyk's career. Reeder's idea of creating a trance-inducing, melodic, euphoric and positive-sounding version of techno was ultimately to be realized by Cosmic Baby for the first time. One of MFS's most popular projects was "The Visions of Shiva", a collaboration between Cosmic Baby (Harald Blüchel) and Paul van Dyk. Together they released two singles, "Perfect Day" and "How Much Can You Take?" before going their own way in 1993. Another successful MFS release was "Love Stimulation" by Humate in 1993, which included the debut remix by Paul van Dyk.
In February 1992 MFS released the first trance compilation called Tranceformed From Beyond, which contained specially remixed tracks from the releases of previous years. The album was sequenced and mixed by Cosmic Baby & Mijk van Dijk. A year later, MFS asked Paul van Dyk to create a DJ mix for his second compilation album - the soundtrack for an earlier computer graphics video - which they called " X-Mix -1 - The MFS Trip". This was a collaboration with the then video label STUD! O K7 .
Some of MFS 'more successful albums were "Stellar Supreme" (1992), "Ki" (1993) by 030 / Dr. Motte , "Afreuropamericasiaustralica" (1994) by Mijk van Dijk and Paul van Dyks "45 RPM" (1994) and "Seven Ways" (1996) albums. Both PVD and Cosmic Baby became main MFS artists, but in early 1994 Cosmic Baby left the label and went to BMG.
Mark Reeder began signing more underground artists and tracks, while Torsten Jurk mainly concentrated on the administration and bookings of Paul van Dyk, until MFS finally founded its own booking agency and music publishing team. In the mid-1990s, Paul van Dyk became a huge commercial success for MFS. The first two Van Dyk albums 45 RPM (1994) and Seven Ways (1996) as well as numerous singles with increasingly international bookings were released. With For an Angel Van Dyk also produced one of the most famous tracks of the scene, which only appeared on the album 45 RPM via MFS . The successful single was released later on the British label Deviant Records. PVD released numerous singles and remixes and stayed with MFS until late 1997.
After Torsten Jurk left the company in 1998, Reeder continued the label, but was later confronted with a lawsuit from Paul van Dyk over his third studio album, which later became known as Out There and Back , and eventually Reeder's friend Rob on Deviant Records UK Deacon was released.
After 1999, Reeder increasingly distanced himself from the trance scene and devoted himself more and more to techno. This was particularly reflected in the publication policy. In addition to techno and house by Corvin Dalek and Kama Arts , projects such as Berlin Mitte Boys ( Jürgen Laarmann , DJ Clé , Mike Vamp , Hugo, Robbie and Thomas Ramstedter), which mainly featured a cover version of the title New York City Boy of the Pet Shop Boys appeared and broke up after just one record.
Artwork
Graphic designer Marc Schilkowski has been responsible for the cover design since the label was launched. Right from the start, care was taken to ensure that all records and CD backs have the same elements and are in the same positions, thus creating a uniform overall impression of the cover. Among other things, prominent brand names were changed as design ideas, such as United Colors of Benetton to United Frequencies of Trance .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ The importance of youth culture in the youth phase using the example of "Techno" , by Sandra Rauch, Grin Verlag, 2008
- ↑ Electronic Sound Magazine Issue 47 ( https://electronicsound.co.uk/ ) p. 4
- ↑ Mark Reeder: The Man Behind The Curtain ( September 8, 2007 memento in the Internet Archive ), accessed June 3, 2010
- ↑ Reeder has shaped the technoid sound of Berlin zitty.de 20 September 2018
- ↑ MUZIK issue March 2000 - Paul van Dyk vs. MFS court case