EMF

EMF operated on the fringes of baggy in the early 1990s, cultivating a hyperactive, sample-ridden dance-rock hybrid that sounded vaguely related to the cacophonic racket of Madchester but emphasized heavier drumbeats and a stronger hip-hop influence. The latter may be the reason that EMF became one of the few British groups of their era to leapfrog across the Atlantic, scoring a number one hit in America with "Unbelievable," a psychedelic dance-rock single that peaked just months before Nirvana released Nevermind. The grunge revolution hit EMF particularly hard. Although they delivered a second album rather swiftly, Stigma in 1992, they were shut out of American radio and soon the U.K. became engulfed in Brit-pop, leaving the group to sing novelties with comedians Reeves and Mortimer in 1995. EMF disbanded soon afterward but they proceed with reunions in the 2000s, finally rallying for a proper comeback in 2023 with the release of Go Go Sapiens.

Taking their name from David Quantick's description of New Order fans as "Epsom Mad Funkers," EMF formed in late 1989 in Cinderford. EMF featured several musicians who cut their teeth participating in the scene that emerged in the Forest of Dean region of Gloucestershire, including singer James Atkin, keyboardist Derry Brownson, drummer Marc Decloedt, guitarist Zac Foley, guitarist Ian Dench and DJ Milf. Cultivating a cacophonic blend of British indie pop, hip-hop, and dance-rock, EMF debuted in 1990 with "Unbelievable," an infectious single constructed around unexpected samples of controversial comedian Andrew "Dice" Clay. "Unbelievable" became a runaway hit, climbing into the Top Ten around the world and even reaching number one in America, a rare feat for a British band. Schubert Dip, EMF's full-length debut, also featured "Lies," a single that caused some controversy due to a sample of John Lennon's assassin Mark David Chapman; Yoko Ono, Lennon's widow, won an injunction against the band, leading to alterations of the track in subsequent pressings.

EMF's career cooled as quickly as it heated up. The Unxplained EP and Stigma, the group's quickly delivered sequel to Schubert Dip, both appeared in the thick of the alternative rock explosion, a grittier, earthier sound that was far removed from the bright, colorful dance-rock of EMF. Stigma didn't chart in the U.S. and generated only two modest hits -- "They're Here" and "It's You" -- in the U.K. The group cooled their heels for a few years, returning in 1995 with Cha Cha Cha, an album that was overshadowed by a silly cover of the Monkees' "I'm a Believer" recorded with the comedy duo Reeves and Mortimer. This version reached number three in the U.K. charts, the same position "Unbelievable" achieved a few years earlier.

EMF split after releasing the "Afro King" single in 1995. The members scattered to various projects -- Ian Dench's band Whistler was the most prominent among them; he would later become a professional songwriter, co-writing the Beyonce and Shakira duet "Beautiful Liar," and he also produced a pair of tracks on Beyonce's 2008 album I Am….Sasha Fierce -- before they reunited in 2001 to play a concert to promote a compilation, rightly titled Epsom Mad Funkers: The Best of EMF. Not long afterward, Zac Foley died of a prescription drug overdose. The rest of the band rallied to perform previously scheduled concerts before going their separate ways. EMF reunited again in 2007 and 2008 with Richard March, a veteran of Pop Will Eat Itself, replacing Foley. After three quiet years, EMF re-formed again -- now featuring Stevey Marsh on bass -- to play a handful of concerts, including a December 2012 show where they played Schubert Dip and Stigma in their entirety; this was later released as Videodrome Long Live the New Flesh. From there, EMF remained a semi-active concern, playing the occasional show and launching such archival projects as 2020's vinyl box set From Us to You, which featured a bonus LP of demos and rarities.

In 2022, EMF released their first new music since 1995, issuing the single "Sister Sandinista." The song served as a teaser to Go Go Sapiens, a 2023 album that found them reviving their '90s sound. EMF brought Adrian Todd aboard as their full-time drummer on the supporting tour. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine