PREMIERE : Altered Era - Lick the Limit (Jay Carder Remix)

One third of UK trio Protect Ryan and HOMAGE alumni, Altered Era, real name Alex Pinkerton (aka Pinky), makes his solo debut on the label with Never Without My Schnäuzchen. Across six tracks, the release cuts between bass, breaks, techno, dubstep, and drum & bass, driven by frenetic rhythms, cheeky sampling, and enough low-end to rearrange your body chemistry. The release is complemented by remixes from Apparition Noise, reworking the material through a lens of funky, broken techno and bass; Bidl, delivering heavy dubstep pressure with core shattering low-end weight; and Jay Carder, whose rework draws from dub reggae and dub techno traditions, reshaping the material into something deeper and more hypnotic. There's also a collaboration with fellow Berlin-based artist SAGAN, who lends her touch on a raucous dancehall-influenced hardcore tune. I've been lucky to spend time with Alex in London, and most recently in Berlin, roaming the city, eating kebabs, getting drunk at bars, and standing in line for six hours before getting rejected at Berghain. He's a real student of the game, someone who's put in the time, given plenty to the scene, and is very much one to watch.