Scene and Heard – CCLXIII : Live it Up – DJ Rebel & Nick Dillinger (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

Even though dance music might be compartmentalised into numerous sub-genres, those smaller musical territories still cover a broad range of sounds. House music wanders widely between pumping and vibrant techno driven beats and the more progressive and often intricate and ambient sounds. Released after a year long hiatus and working with Nick Dillinger, DJ Rebel’s latest single seems to combine the best of both worlds, walking a fine line between dynamic drive and smoother sound washes.

At its most vibrant the beats are the perfect clubland pulse, groovesome, confident and full of energy, at the other the breakdowns and builds are spacious and exotic, sketched only lightly from modern electronica, chilled sound washes and reserved beat. It is this ability to switch between the dance floor drives and the sultry spaces between that creates a wonderful play off of musical light and shade and the perfect song to bridge the gap between the nights main event and the start of the more chilled early hour vibe.