Single review: Armin van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, Rank 1 & Ruben de Ronde - Destination

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Stream here 

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Armind | Cat# ASOT781
Released: September 22nd 2023
Buy here: https://www.beatport.com/release/destination-a-state-of-trance-2024-anthem/4250900
01. | 138 BPM | F_Min | 06:15 | Extended Mix

02. | 138 BPM | F_Min | 03:13 | 
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2023-09-30

Imagine three of Anthem Trance's biggest Champions/Pioneers coming together in the studio alongside a modern day Prog talent to craft an Anthem for next year's ASOT 2024 celebrations... And imagine they would stream that whole process... Now what could that possibly be like?? A scenario that many fans may have been dreaming of for years has finally become a reality with the smash hit 'Destination', brought to you by mr. A State Of Trance himself, -Armin van Buuren-  mr. Resonation Radio, -Ferry Corsten- the scene's most iconic Anthem creator, -Rank 1- and of course ASOT's friendly neighborhood co-host -Ruben de Ronde-.

Picture three days of studio work, each of the three broadcast live as we fans get to have a very rare glimpse into how artists of this caliber and history of service to our genre work and think... And joke.... xD In June we got treated to that and I have to say as a long time fan of these guys it was incredibly educational, inspirational and hilarious to watch those Heroes Of Old just shooting the breeze together and having fun crafting an Anthem for a beloved annual event... So now the Big Question. Is it any good? Here's what I have to say about it:

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Armin van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, Rank 1 & Ruben de Ronde - Destination (ASOT 2024 Anthem) (Extended Mix)

The build-up has the typical attention to detail synonymous to Benno's Rank 1 vision. A chopped choir "note", stuttering synths, snare rolls, a very iconic German '90s Trance "whomp" bass, a little tease of the main motif... Together with Ruben he made sure that the track's body is a solid one with a good "oomph" to it and some great energy to boot as well. There is something symbolic about the track reaching its breakdown at 1:38, giving how Destination runs at 138 BPM (trivia: the last Rank 1 track to have this tempo was Ronald van Gelderen - This Way (Rank 1 Remix) all the way back from 2006!!). 

The breakdown now does several typical things for these guys. The trademark "L.E.D. Phone Beep" teases the main lead of the track whilst running at an own very low tempo. It slowly begins increasing in intensity and back-up elements like filtered claps and an extra synth, a gimmick that has been present in several Armin tracks down the years. The break becomes more and more atmospheric with backing pads and synths before finally unleashing its full Trance power at 02:51 following the female vocal exclaiming "Your Destination!" in true '90s Club Trance fashion: this next part is so deliciously Classic Corsten Trance! Then at 03:05 Armin's main lead joins forces, backed by the whomp bass and we are taken to a classic snare-roll driven climax with the only main lead's final notes allowed to play right at the peak, giving the drop that extra dash of Trance Energy!

04:15 Destination pulls a bit of a The Greater Light To Rule The Night harmonization trick... I have to be honest and state that it took me a bit to get used to in the beginning. Given how euphoric and happy Destination's melody is, I didn't understand or feel this need to add a segment in a minor/dramatic tone... But given that I've been playing the ASOT rip of this track a lot since June I have gradually gotten used to it up to the point that I don't mind it at all anymore! We get to enjoy the main melody part one last time before the percussion falls away and the main synths slowly filter down. The final part of the track is just pure "whomp" bass driven goodness. Obviously though this wouldn't be a Rank 1 (co-)production if at the very end of the track there wasn't one last melody-climax effect of sorts like in This Way (Rank 1 Remix) (2006), Analog Feel (Rank 1's Digital Rehash) (2007), L.E.D. There Be Light (2008), The Great Escape (2010).

I have to say that ever since ASOT started having Anthems all the way back in 2010, this one stands out as one of the very finest alongside REFLEXION and Status Excessu D. So big up yourselves guys, you made a proper Anthemic Trance banger!

Bonuspoint: We FINALLY got a Rank 1 / Ferry Corsten collaboration!!! :D

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To Conclude...

Clocking over a little longer than 6 minutes, Destination succeeds in honoring the Classic Sound these guys got famous for and does so whilst sounding pretty crisp and modern at the same time. It's a throwback to years gone by but obviously lives up to today's production standards.

Now, Destination is not the first of its ilk. All of these guys have dabbed around in making "Retro flavored" Trancers with a big phat wink to the late '90s anthem sound. Heck, Rank 1 was one of the very first acts to do so back in the early '10s along with M.I.K.E.(/Push). Everyone basically followed their lead after their own Trouse hits started to hit a snag and lose impact. So in that sense, it doesn't instantly blow me away as say Elements Of Nature (2013), Anahera (2015) or Inyathi (2016) did. But I will say that for me it's an incredibly fun track with a very catchy melody that gets stuck in my head. The German "whomp" bass has got a really nice addicting groove to it and the energy throughout the track is great. Aesthetically proper, technically lean and clean, Destination does what you would expect it to do. 

Its greatest charm however, is that we got to see how these guys work on music and how they do so together. In my case, it's always baffled me how more than two people can work on one track and not be like a 3rd wheel (unless they are in a band of course because each bandmember has a specific instrumental/vocal contribution to make). So the dynamic was a very interesting one to see. The passion these guys have for music, and for making a banger in particular is evident for all to see. 

Armin, Ferry, Ruben and Benno! Thank you for giving us a glimpse into your production and collaboration process! It's been inspirational stuff to watch and I honestly think you guys made a track worthy of your legacies in our beautiful Genre. 

[Edit]: PS. Congratulations on reaching number rank #1 on Beatport!!

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