- One month on after Steve Hellstrip (a.k.a The Thrillseekers) and Daniel Soto turned altitude into an international spectacle, it was time for another party of all things trance at one of the best new club nights of the year. This time attendees were treated with the sounds of Melbourne rising star Miss Mel, strongly supported by the usual assortion of altitude up’n’coming dj’s.
The first thing you notice whenever entering an altitude party is the warm welcome from the door staff. Always smiling, always cheerful, always make you feel like they actually want you there (a novelty among some Sydney clubs of late). As the name suggests the night was also taking on a christmas flavour, so santa claus hats were a common sight from both the door staff and punters alike!
The Dendy as a venue, despite its critics, provides both an ideal area to chill out and take in the sounds of the mercury lounge, and a relatively small yet intimate dancefloor which serves to creat an atmosphere unlike any other. After easing my way in to the night with the impressive set by k_cadet in the mercury lounge, and greeting many of the regulars, it wasn’t long before I stepped up a notch into the uplifting trance room where Rodski was providing the perfect buildup for altitude’s interstate guest. Tracks like Angel’s reverse – Don’t care, Three Drives – Carrera 2, and Agnelli & Nelson’s classic ‘Everyday’ soon had the room packed out and filled with grins from ear to ear!
On the stroke of midnight Rodski made way for Miss Mel to an appreciative cheer from the altitude faithful, and she was sure to pick things up right from where Rod had left off. Her slightly harder edged style of uplifting trance was certainly harder than what I was used to from an altitude event, but it was great to hear something different and to see a dj pushing her own style as well as playing the role of crowd-pleaser. Punters continued to pack in to the trance room throughout her set (many perhaps to admire rather than listen to) and very few left the room without a smile on their face, always a good indicator of the quality of any dj’s set.
Stama then took over the reigns and opened his set on a strong note (no pun intended), but I must confess I missed the majority of his set as my urge to socialise took over. Judging from the raps he has continued to receive though it sounds like I missed out, as Stama continues to quickly grow into an Altitude crowd favorite.
I was able to catch the early part of the versatile Simon Sez’s set before weariness began to set in and it was time to say my farewells and exit into the eerily smoky Sydney streets. Once again I left knowing I had been part of something special, and had enjoyed being amongst the friendliest club vibe I have ever encountered. Altitude continues to grow, and with such strong continued support it will surely remain a part of the Sydney dance scene for some time to come.