- With the fairly successful opening few months of Altitude, Sydney’s newest trance night endeavored on bringing out their first international acts, capturing the services of dj/producer Steve Helstrip (a.k.a The Thrillseekers) and UK Godskitchen resident Daniel Soto. They picked wisely, as both put on great performances to the delight of what has become somewhat of a niche market in the Sydney dance scene.
Upon arrival the first thing I noticed was the disappointingly low turnout. It irritates me a great deal when a night such as Altitude tries its best to do something different and provide something fresh and new, only to fail to receive the amount of support it deserves. To their huge credit the Altitude crew, despite the obvious problems associated with such a low turnout at an international event, were determined to put on a great night regardless for the loyal supporters. These guys are a true credit to the dance industry and epitomize what it really is all about.
Morro warmed up the crowd well with a nice selection of melodic and uplifting tunes, and by the time Liquid M stepped up behind the keyboards the trance room at least was buzzing! These guys are the best live act I have witnessed and once again put on an awesome display for the altitude faithful. Hands-in-the air trance at its best, joined towards the end of their half-hour performance by a female vocalist to match their own talents. These guys have limitless potential and I recommend anyone who is yet to witness their live act should do so as soon as possible!
The mood was now set for Steve Helstrip to take to the decks and pick up where Liquid M had left off. The man behind various production monikers such as, most obviously, The Thrillseekers, as well Insigma, Rapid Eye, and En-motion, not to mention an extensive list of superb remixes, has firmly established himself as one of Europe’s top trance producers. Having now witnessed him live I can say that his dj’s skills are just as impressive, as he delivered a quality set comprising of all things melodic, uplifting and euphoric, with some quality vocal tracks thrown in for good measure. Opening with a nice remix of libra’s “calling your name”, he wasted no time in putting smiles on the faces of all people lucky enough to be present! Other tracks he pulled out of his box included recent floor-fillers Exposure – Magic Impulse, Cape town – pitstop, Darren Tate v Jonno Grant – Let the light shine in, and the track he is most famous for, the classic Synaesthesia, which I regarded as the highlight of his set. On top of his great set he was one of the friendliest dj’s I have come across, both internationally and locally: huge smile on his face throughout his set, singing along to the more catchy vocal tracks of his set, and chatting away to organizers and punters alike before and after his set. This has been a growing theme lately amongst visiting international stars and it is great to see!
With Steve’s set ending with huge applause and cheering from the whole dance floor, it was Daniel’s turn to step up and show the Sydney fans what he was made of. The result was yet another impressive set consisting of a slightly harder style of trance that lacked the euphoria of Helstrip but was equally as enjoyable and energetic. Helstrip had set the standard and Soto certainly matched him in the mixing department with another flawless display. By the end of the set everyone in the intimate crowd was well and truly satisfied, and Soto’s equally positive demeanor only served to increase the friendly vibe of the night.
Altitude succeeded in once again providing Sydney with an excellent night, a night which clearly deserved much more support than it got. Those that did attend, however, all left knowing they had been part of something special, and a part of one of the friendliest vibes I have ever experienced at a club night. Trance has undergone somewhat of a resurgence in Sydney in recent months and hopefully the small turnout here is merely a minor setback, and Altitude will soon be packed out once again! With its absolute commitment to providing great music and a great atmosphere, it deserves no less.