Deadmau5’s ‘Strobe’ Remix Compilation Has Arrived
Deadmau5’s “Strobe” is one of dance music’s most iconic songs in history.
Yesterday, deadmau5’s label Mau5trap records celebrated its 100th release with a “Strobe” remix compilation. Mau5trap asked a wide array of artists to remix the 10-minute masterpiece. The compilation features remixes from Feed Me, Lane 8, Com Truise, Dimension and deadmau5’s protégée ATTLAS.
For anyone who needs the backstory, “Strobe” originally came off deadmau5’s 2009 album For Lack of a Better Name, and it’s basically achieved untouchable status in the years since — the kind of progressive house track that gets played at the end of a set to absolutely wreck a crowd emotionally before the lights come up. Ten minutes of slow-building, melodic tension is not a normal ask for a dance track, and the fact that it still works this well almost a decade later says everything about why Mau5trap wanted to mark their 100th catalog release (officially cataloged as MAU50100) by handing it off to five artists they clearly trust.
The lineup they picked isn’t random, either. Feed Me and ATTLAS are both artists with deep ties to deadmau5 and the Mau5trap roster, Lane 8 brings his own melodic, deep house sensibility to the table, Com Truise leans into his signature synthwave textures, and Dimension adds a heavier, bass-driven edge. Five very different takes on the same source material, which is exactly what makes a remix compilation like this worth sitting through front to back instead of just skipping to your favorite.
Handing over a track this beloved to other producers is always a little risky. “Strobe” isn’t just a fan favorite, it’s arguably the song a huge chunk of the current dance music generation points to as the reason they got into the genre in the first place. Letting five different artists reinterpret it for a milestone release could’ve easily gone sideways, but pulling from a roster that’s already steeped in the Mau5trap sound gave the label a much better shot at doing the original justice instead of just churning out disposable remix filler.
There’s also something fitting about the timing. Mau5trap hitting its 100th release on the back of “Strobe” feels less like a coincidence and more like deadmau5 deliberately bookending a decade of the label’s growth with the song most people associate with where it all started. It’s a nice full-circle moment for a label that’s grown from a passion project into one of the more respected imprints in the scene.
Stream deadmau5’s ‘Strobe’ remix compilation below.
And ps…
…and don't worry, there's a part two coming from you know who. here's to another 100 releases on mau5trap, hope you can join us x
— mau5trap (@mau5trap) September 23, 2016
Purchase the remix pack here.
