Single Review: Rank 1 - Strobo (Deeper Dub Mix) [February 2025]

High Contrast Recordings || Cat# HCR449D1
Friday February 21th 2025
01.	Extended Mix	05:57	G_Min|| 140 BPM
02.	Deeper Dub Extended Mix	04:39	G_Min || 140 BPM
03.	[Radio Edit]	03:25	G_Min|| 140 BPM
04.	Deeper Dub Mix	04:00	G_Min || 140 BPM

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2025-02-08

Picture it. It's a cold Saturday night. I'm just minding my business updating the Symsonic1 Blog, blankie around my legs, chillin' with a SUPERSTRINGS set in the background... I want to look into something so I go into search mode when suddenly I see the most recent post mentioning Rank 1 coming from mr. Photographer (AGAIN). It says "10. Rank 1 - Strobo (Deeper Dub Mix) [High Contrast Recordings] #SCRadio525". I blink for a brief moment and read it again. Yes, it really says "Rank 1 - Strobo". Not Rank 1 - "Symfo", no, Rank 1 - Strobo. In the Deeper Dub Mix. ...WAIT WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?! THE NEW RANK 1 IS ALREADY HERE?!?! I've been so eager to hear what the new Rank 1 single would sound like after they teased us like mad in October, first asking us who was ready for a new Rank 1 Remix and two weeks later who was ready for a new Rank 1 original! About two weeks ago Benno dropped a little teaser again: a familiar L.E.D.-based synth and some delectable gated saws wrapped in a simple hook. I love me some gated saws but there was no telling where this track was going. I was obviously pumped to find out how a Rank 1 original would sound with Take Me Away as the departure point. So here we are! I can say, I'm not disappointed!

Rank 1 - Strobo (Deeper Dub Extended Mix)

For starters, I dig this name. "Strobo". It sounds f*cking cool. And it sounds typically Rank 1 too. Then there is the fact that Strobo is the first Rank 1 solo single in NINE years time! That's right, they haven't had an official solo release since "Superstring" in 2016! The Live At ASOT 950 exclusives were only ever released on streaming platforms so they don't really count imo... Now, let's get into the meat of things. An electric Acid motif on top of a heavy, dark kick. Crisp, groovy, percussion. An almost vocal-chop esque sound: this cocktail of energy intensifies to the backdrop of trademark reverbing fx. Something powerful is brewing here... The beat suddenly gives away as the kicks drones on and the Acid motif slowly dies down. There is a sudden moment of serenity when an all-too familiar L.E.D.-esque synth gently starts playing a simple hook: a response is echoed by s Classic gated Trance saw, with some very subtle bass pitches rising up in the background. Less Is More has often times been Rank 1's approach to music and this "breakdown" is their most minimalistic ever. Dare I say, they did that on purpose though. Because suddenly, in a respectful nod to the immortal likes of "L.E.D. There Be Light" and "The Great Escape", Strobo EXPLODES into life: the former gentle L.E.D.-synth thunders with a ferocity that takes us back Trance Energy 2009, back to Sunrise Festival 2009, back to Entrance 2010... The reply it receives is even fiercer and comes from a completely different instrument now; A powerful, raw, VICOUS saw roars back, its almost stuttering melody-pattern embodying the audio equivalent of a Strobe Light. Wait... Is that why they called it Strob...?! Oh Rank 1! ;) Now the L.E.D.-synth heads into its climax loop, instensifying as it is filtered down when at the height of the climax Rank 1 drop this SICK haywire noise before Strobo is unleashed in all its floor-devasting glory: a pulsing Psy-like bassline blazes onward, driven by the furious energy of a darker grittier version of the "reply saw" as the playful nature of the question-answer dynamic of the synths is carried on throughout the main part. Strobo is dark, heavy-duty, banging 140 BPM driven mania from the guys. But in all its attempts to encapsulate a short, peak-time floorsmasher, the guys keep room for detail. The vocal chops in the main segment of the track are a nice touch; but so is that bit towards the end where the main leads' interplay is replicated by two different synths... As if the rage of the furious saws continues to whisper as Strobo slowly winds down.

Rank 1 - Strobo (Extended Mix)

I heard the Extended Mix after the Deeper Dub Extended Mix and in hindsight I fear the Deeper Dub Mix spoiled me a bit. It sent me into a speculation frenzy on the original as I believed it the Deeper Dub Extended Mix followed a similar logic to Rank 1's Minimal Progressive Techno Electro Trance Mix of "And Then..." and the Laserlight Rework of L.E.D. There Be Light. To put it differently, I expected the contrast between the two to be more radical. Instead, for me, the Extended Mix feels like a... "Stripped Down Mix" (do you Realiiiiize hehehe) of sorts. The Extended Mix is a curious Rank 1 original to me. It runs at a whooping 140 BPM but there is something groovy/catchy to it more remniscent of Rank 1's more downtempo dancefloor-oriented tracks. Its actually built on the L.E.D.-Saw dynamic throughout, rather than having different synths take over this interplay. I think what caught me by surprise the most about this version is the lack of more backing elements in its breakdown. I would swear we were gonna get some tasty Strings or pads in there! But I guess that's the thing: had Rank 1 added all that stuff, it probably would have felt to them as if they were just making "another" L.E.D. There Be Light. And that's just not how they roll. Thank God for that! My obvious preference is the darker sibling here but I have to say that after many (re)plays, the original has grown on me a bit. It's a fun, catchy track for sure, and I tend to play it right before or after the Deeper Dub Extended Mix so no worries: it gets plenty of love! Regardless of my preference, I am hoping to see this one blow up over the next few weeks! Let's gooooooo! :D

In conclusion

The Deeper Dub Mix is an absolute SHREDDER. Marco V meets Marcel Woods meets Jonah - Ssst, Listen... meets PEAK High Contrast Recordings Tech Trance Era... So much killer goodness wrapped into one angry tune. The Extended Mix doesn't take the cake for me but I am sure for others that will be their go-to version. All in all I am THRILLED to see Rank 1 put out a new single, with an alternative mix to boot!! It sure takes me back to the Glorious Golden Era of alternate Rank 1 (re)mixes... Who else remembers the non-conventional sounds of: * "Life Less Ordinary" (A Less Ordinary Rank 1 Remix) (2007) * "And Then..." (Rank 1's Minimal Progressive Techno Electro Trance Mix) (2008) * "L.E.D There Be Light" (Laserlight Rework) (2009) * "Symfo" (Rank 1's That Side Mix) (2009) Well, it might have taken them 9 years to finally release a new solo single again, but man was it worth the wait! Go grab it now, it's out on all your favorite platforms!

If you're interested in other reviews I made for Rank 1, please check out:
https://razormaneofficial.blogspot.com/search/label/Rank%201

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