Black Strobe
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 in Paris, France |
| Founder | Arnaud Rebotini, Ivan Smagghe |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Electroclash music, remixes |
Black Strobe (also known as Blackstrobe) is an electroclash ensemble that originated in Paris in 1997, founded by producer Arnaud Rebotini alongside DJ Ivan Smagghe. They were instrumental in shaping the UK electroclash movement, gaining recognition with their hit "Me and Madonna." While their beginnings were rooted in house music, their sound gradually incorporated elements from the 1970s and 1980s, especially drawing on industrial post punk and European electronic body music styles. The band characterizes their music as "frozen balearic gay biker house," heavily influenced by groups such as Cabaret Voltaire, Nitzer Ebb, Front 242, and Depeche Mode.
The members of Black Strobe have earned acclaim as remixers, collaborating with artists including Röyksopp, Nitzer Ebb, Rammstein, The Rapture, and Tiefschwarz. After Ivan Smagghe left the group in 2006, Black Strobe transitioned into a four-member live band featuring David "Siskid" Shaw on guitar, Bastien Burger handling bass and keyboard duties, and Benjamin Beaulieu on drums, joining Rebotini who took on vocal responsibilities. Prior to his departure, Smagghe contributed to the band's lyrical content. This evolution was marked by their debut album Burn Your Own Church released in 2007.
Songs from Burn Your Own Church received notable media placements: "I'm A Man" was included in the soundtracks for RocknRolla (2008), Le Mac (2009), the AMC television series The Walking Dead, and controversially appeared without authorization in the Bollywood movie Once Upon a Time in Mumbai (2010). Additionally, "Shining Bright Star" featured in the multiplayer trailer for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. In 2013, "Boogie in Zero Gravity" was part of Radio Mirror Park's playlist on Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto V soundtrack.
Following a period of extensive remix activity, Black Strobe released the EP Back From Beyond in 2009. This release was complemented by a 2010 music video directed by Laurent Chanez, whom they connected with through the Groupe de Recherches Musicales (GRM) during 2004.
Singles
- Paris Acid City (Source Records 1997)
- Innerstrings (Output Recordings 2000)
- Me And Madonna (Output Recordings 2002)
- Italian Fireflies (Kitsuné Music 2003)
- Deceive/Play (Blackstrobe Records 2005)
- Last Dub On Earth (Crosstown Rebels 2006)
- Black Metal (Playlouderecordings 2007)
- I'm A Man (Playlouderecordings 2007)
- Shining Bright Star (Playlouderecordings 2007)
- Blood Shot Eyes (Playlouderecordings 2013)
EPs and studio albums
- Chemical Sweet Girl EP (Output Records 2004)
- Shining Bright Star EP (Playlouderecordings 2006)
- Me & Madonna EP (Kitsune 2010)
Remixes
- Playgroup – "Number One" (2001)
- Cosmo Vitelli – "Robot Soul" (2002)
- Märtini Brös – "The Biggest Fan" (2002)
- Justin Robertson presents Revtone – "Everpresent" (2002)
- Sir Drew – "Shemale" (2002)
- W.I.T. – "Hold Me, Touch Me" (2002)
- Rammstein – "Mutter" (cancelled, 2002)
- Dominatrix – "The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight" (2003)
- The Hacker, Millimetric & David Carretta – "Moskow Reise" (2003)
- The Rapture – "Sister Saviour" (2003)
- Röyksopp – "Eple" (2003)
- Tiefschwarz – "Ghostrack" (2003)
- Tones on Tail – "Means of Escape" (2003)
- Alexkid – "Pick It Up" (2004)
- Alter Ego – "Rocker" (2004)
- Dave Clarke – "What Was Her Name?" (2004)
- Depeche Mode – "Something to Do" (2004)
- David Guetta – "The World Is Mine" (2004)
- Oscar – "Loa" (2004)
- Rammstein – "Keine Lust" (2004)
- Sweet Exorcist – "Test Four" (2004)
- Bloc Party – "Like Eating Glass" (2005)
- Fischerspooner – "Never Win" (2005)
- The Hacker – "Flesh & Bone" (2005)
- White Rose Movement – "Love Is a Number" (2005)
- Sweet Light – "Abusator" (2005)
- Nitzer Ebb – "Getting Closer" (2006)
- Olga Kouklaki – "Getalife" (2007)
- Vive La Fête – "La Route" (2007)
- The Neon Judgement – "13.13" (2007)
- The Penelopes – "Demian" (2007)
- Ayumi Hamasaki – "About You" (2008)
- Lindstrom & Christabelle – "Baby can't Stop (Tsugi mix)" (2010)
- Acid Washed – "General Motors, Detroit, America" (2010)
- tape to tape – "pure & easy" (2010)
- Majeure – "The Dresden Codex" (2010)
- Taxi Girl – "Chercher le garçon" (2010)
- The Toxic Avenger – "Angst: One" (2010)
- Turzi Electronic Experience – "Connaissance" (2011)
- The Subs – "Decontrol" (2011)