MFG - The Prophecy

The Prophecy is one of the most important releases in the history of Israeli Goa trance. MFG made a strong debut in 1996 with a dual release on Symbiosis UK and Phonokol in Israel. Although many artists had been producing and releasing albums before Guy Zukrel and Aharon Segal began to write trance, the duo were fortunate enough to arrive in time for a period of intense prosperity and wide exposure for Israeli artists. Astral Projection made a big splash with the international re-release of Trust in Trance 3 that same year, instantly generating a strong demand for powerful melodic trance from the Holy Land. MFG’s debut was conveniently available in time to capitalize on the hype.

The style heard on The Prophecy is fairly similar to Astral Projection in many respects, so it would be impossible to write this review without making some comparisons. Some of this can be explained by recounting the legendary story of how Aharon and Guy found trance, as told on Isratrance:

In 1995 they decided to write a real electro-industrial album together under the name Message From God. They wrote a few tracks till a friend that was into trance introduced them to a couple of tracks by The Infinity Project (TIP). They were amazed by the combination of sophisticated electronic music and melodies, and decided to write a couple of tracks and see what happens. It didn’t take long till they got to Oren Kristal at Phonokol. He introduced them to Let There Be Light by Astral Projection, and they fell in love with this track and with Astral’s sound. The outcome was Desert Sun. Oren signed them for 3 albums immediately after he heard that one.

Not only were they highly influenced by Astral Projection’s sound, but MFG also shared a studio with the group during the production of The Prophecy. Their style on this early effort is by no means a total knock-off, however. MFG infuse their creations with an original flair, most easily heard in the industrial character of their hard-hitting analog bass lines. One more key difference comes to mind: whereas Astral Projection had arrived at a polished style after years of making trance, MFG had not yet ironed out the various kinks and quirks that inevitably crop up at first. MFG would go on to purify their own original sound in the years that followed, retroactively framing The Prophecy as a record of the group’s transition from imitation to inspiration.

The worldwide reaction to the album release was very positive, and The Prophecy continues to be cited as a dependable old favourite by many classic Goa trance fans. With a few years to consider the impact of the album, Guy Shanti at Isratrance writes:

This album is considered to be one of the greatest achievements of Israeli trance and it lives up to the expectations. With more then three years of perspective, after huge technological leaps and global musical diversification, this album still sounds interesting and powerful. Its beats are hard and the melodies lose none of their uplifting ability, regardless of the years that passed or the number of times you heard it. You can hear echoes of this album in a lot of music that was done since then, and it influenced just about everybody.

I should note that the UK edition of The Prophecy features a slightly different track listing than what can be heard on the more widely available Phonokol release. Symbiosis substituted New Horizon and Mystic Dawn for Space Travel and Maya Moon, which I have also reviewed here.

The last introductory words I leave you with concern the prophecy written on the inner sleeve of the CD release. MFG paraphrase a short speech from the Reverend Mother in David Lynch’s film version of Frank Herbert’s epic science fiction novel Dune. Here is the original words from the movie:

“And now the prophecy… He will come… the voice from the outer world, bringing the holy war, the Jihad, which will cleanse the Universe and bring us out of darkness.”

Compare this to what you will find inside the MFG release:

“The Prophecy: One Will Come, Voice From The Outer World… And Bring Us Out Of Darkness”

The omissions may be telling, but anything more that could be said is pure speculation. At first, one might figure that the reference to Dune is another way in which MFG emulated Astral Projection, but I suspect that the reverse may be true. AP’s Dancing Galaxy is well-known for a heavy usage of samples from Dune, but it was released in 1997. Looking back, the first Astral Projection song which features Dune samples is The Sleeper Must Awake, a collaboration with MFG released in 1996 on Israel’s Psychedelic Trance 1. Is it possible that Astral Projection gained their celebrated appreciation of Dune from Guy and Aharon?

With the historic context set, and a bit of trivia out of the way, let me take you on a tour of the sounds of MFG’s debut album…

The title track The Prophecy begins the journey out of darkness. This tune is a fairly straight-forward introduction to the style of MFG, shying away from bold melodies in favour of mystic atmospheres and subtle hooks, giving the listener a chance to really tune in. The drum programming matches the Astral Projection style, but MFG back it with dynamic bass lines. The best feature of this opening track is the way in which the whirling alien melodies seem to spiral around the soundscape. It is precisely this spiral motion that gives this song its Oriental feeling, which conveys something of a spiritual impression to some listeners. I’ve always been fond of it – The Prophecy is a favourite for sure!

Magnetic Activity (Total Eclipse) has confused countless Goa trance listeners over the years. To clear things up, this song has nothing to do with the group Total Eclipse. It begins with a whimsical exclamation from Data: “I have a magnetic personality… humour, I love it, whee!” Thus begins one of the strongest anthems of 1996! The psychedelic melodies really shine on this powerful classic, which exhibits an advanced level of storytelling. Aggressive breakdowns keep the less energetic moments quite interesting, transitioning to new stages of melodic development that unfold in an intelligent fashion. The resulting journey is a vivid trip into the timeless world of trance.

Alternate Dimension was my first encounter with MFG. I heard it on Goa Gil’s Kosmokrator release, which is part of the Deck Wizards series from Psychic Deli. Although the kick drum is incredibly weak for trance, the track is quite fast and aggressive. MFG develop a very alien atmosphere with this one, eventually building towards a gorgeous breakdown in the very heart of the song. A frantic fluttering melody springs into action, inspiring halcyon moods with a mystic feel. It isn’t long before the storyline decays into more mysterious realms, leading out into several minutes of otherworldly noises. If one has no issue with the curiously flat beat, this is an excellent old Goa track.

Overload is one of the hits of the album, showing an excellent blend of AP influences and the original MFG spirit. The rapid 16th note bass lines clearly speak of the group’s electro-industrial origins, but the smashing percussion follows the energetic Israeli standard. Several Eastern-flavoured melodic themes develop throughout the journey, raising tension levels and inspiring another mystic impression. The arrangement and progression are perhaps the greatest strength of this track, which reaches a massive peak close to the very end. Overload deserves the classic designation; it is a great example of the mid-90s Goa style.

Illumination is most notable for the epic high-end melodies. These stringed creations are the essence of the mid-90s Israeli sound, sounding much like sunshine distilled into a synthesizer. It is one thing to hear this quietly at home, but something else entirely to hear this live and loud with a thousand people all around you, reacting to the powerful emotional overtones of this Goa classic. For this reason, Illumination is more likely to affect those who were there to hear it in the context it was designed for. From an objective perspective, it may seem as if this is trying too hard; that the emotions are not genuine. Listeners who heard this back in the day are nonetheless likely to retain a nostalgic appreciation for this golden piece of early trance.

New Horizon is a step down from the extreme energy of the previous track, returning to the relatively sedate atmospheric storytelling style of first heard on the title track. Long sequences of smooth analog riffs bubble around, occasionally upset by a strong Oriental melody or nostalgic lead. It seems inconsistent by the time it reaches the very end, with one rather brash melody seeming slightly out of place, but it is still a good tune, and reputed to be quite a hit in Goa during the 1996 season.

Hypnotized continues to expose the uplifting morning sounds of the Holy Land. This one has never sounded too distinct to my ears; essentially it is a permutation of the style already expressed in stronger moments on this album. There’s nothing wrong with it, but it leaves me without much to comment on.

The Future Mix of Shape the Future touches up the original MFG classic, released on the compilation Balagan and a vinyl single, both from Symbiosis Records. It confuses me how they could have botched this one so badly. The original is an awe-inspiring example of cosmic trance at its best, but the remix plods along with muffled melodies that I have always found disappointing in comparison. The only really notable deviation from the script is the absolutely massive build-up in the last third of the track. Now, if one had not heard the original, perhaps this would sound great, but I know it well. MFG could have done so much better with the source material. Considered objectively, this song is one of the better pieces in the second half of the album. It is perhaps too bad that my high expectations have forever spoiled my experience of this tune.

Mystic Dawn closes the Phonokol version of the album with a soft piece of trance that sounds akin to what you would find at the tail end of an Astral Projection release. This is more musically substantial than the slower Astral Projection tunes however. Cruising by at close to 110 BPM, this one smoothly guides the listener on an entrancing trip through the early morning light. A smart and calculated use of repetition imbues it with a strong hypnotic character. The final battery of luscious melodies that spills out of this creative tune are just lovely.

Lastly, I feel as if I should write about the two tracks found on the UK release, since I have access to them on vinyl. Maya Moon and Space Travel are both much faster than the rest of the album, cracking away at the blistering pace of 154 BPM! Maya Moon features a cosmic sound in a similar fashion to what can be heard on the original Shape the Future, developing a gorgeous lead melody towards the final moments. Space Travel is much more aggressive, with frantic drum programming and a darker approach. The modulated melodies in the body of the tune come close to taking me on a trip, as the title would suggest, but this is too sloppy and hectic for my blood. Maya Moon is the one to track down if you’re curious about these old rarities. I would still recommend the Phonokol release over the Symbiosis edition, simply because Mystic Dawn is a really nice tune.

The Prophecy is certainly an album of its time, recalling carefree outdoor parties and the fresh perspective of an emerging counterculture. It is cohesive but it isn’t exactly polished; later albums would show a much higher degree of skill in this regard, aided by the experience of crafting The Prophecy. For all of its rough edges and over-the-top melodic energy, this is an album which will continue to warm the hearts of Goa fans for years to come. I never really settled on a stand-out favourite from this album, but there are several good tracks to choose from. While listening to this album in the process of writing this review, I gained a fresh appreciation for several of the early tracks. In the vintage reviews I have unearthed, most fans seem to prefer Overload, Illumination, and Magnetic Activity. The general sentiment I’ve absorbed from reading archived comments suggests that fans feel that the album begins to drift after it crosses into the second half, and I would be inclined to agree. Nonetheless, it is still a great album packed with plenty of old school spirit. Melodic Goa trance fans are certainly going to want to track this down, but most modern listeners unfamiliar with MFG would be advised to check out their second or third albums, which are much more polished. All misgivings aside, MFG made a strong debut with The Prophecy, an album which will forever be remembered as one of the more influential releases of its time.

Release Data

Artist: MFG
Title: The Prophecy
Label: Phonokol / Symbiosis Records
Format: CD/Vinyl album
Released: 1996

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