- Situated in the backwoods of Little Collins St, nestled between a pop-up florist and a Swedish stationery store, New Guernica is a refuge for many after hour clubbers in Melbourne. Since its inception in 2009, its Hansel-and-Gretel-on-acid-inspired decor has provided a sanctuary once other city nightspots turn on the lights. Thus, turning up before midnight for Hot Creations wunderkind Danny Daze felt somewhat atypical.
For a producer who has only released a mere handful of solitary singles, Daze's persona is overtly confident. Portraying himself through press shots that depict himself fraternizing with Cuban soccer mums and sharing hard liquor with Kermit the Frog, his slicked back and filtered take on tech house has seen him recently signed to the far-reaching booking arm of Crosstown Rebels.
Daze began his set with a string of Latin-tinged productions. While perhaps still in his formative years as a producer, he's been a DJ since the age of 13, and his technical prowess was evident. He seamlessly blended through the realms of Italo and gently sifted through to the depths of Detroit techno, before rinsing Superpitcher's anthemic "Rabbits In A Hurry" and Moodymann's "Shades of Jae," and eventually concluding to rapturous applause with his own much-lauded 2011 effort "Your Everything."
At the conclusion of Daze's three-hour set, local stalwarts Rollin Connection and Phil K took control of the main dance floor closing out the party, playing a flurry of their signature muddled techno and house until the bouncers kicked us out at 6 AM.