Review: Brandon Markell Holmes - TRY Remixes (toucan sounds)

Well, it's safe to say that there's no shortage of folks in the queue to remix any tracks with Brandon Markell Holmes' voice on them, but you've got to try your hardest to get on the list for his track 'TRY' and you've got six of the best on this hot 8 track release!

Brandon moved from Chicago to NYC where he's attracted attension from the likes of Derrick Carter, Dee Diggs, musclecars and more to do a remix of his songs after he appeared on Gorillaz album ,‘Humanz'.

And the gang are back again for a look at the album 'TRY' that came out last year and the track 'Fuller' (see review HERE) got one of our favourite world wide DJs, the constantly busy Aroop Roy.  

And another one of our long-time favourites is Byron The Aquarius and he gets ontop of the pumping 'Go Ahead' like a train (which is always a good thing in our books and don't forget the original 'Go Ahead' - see review HERE) and then you got Bad Colours (he of 'Promise' - see HERE) deals with the post-watershed late night weather forecast.

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One of the many stand-out tracks on the album was 'Es Pa Ti' featuring label boss, Robert PM and whilst we're talking of fast trains, you get that on Moon Boots' remix and radio edit.

Dee Diggs sounds so good with BMH they are clearly best buds (see 'Toss It') and the Diggs' remix of 'It Goes On' is the longest on here as just over 6 minutes.  This would usually mean it's our favourite, and it's very close, but if you pushed me to it's down to the 808 Beach (yep, see review HERE) with their remix of the title track 'TRY' (extended and normal for some retro synth disco heaven).

TRY all you might, you might not a better collection of dancefloor groovers than this lot in just one album, so don't try; TRY remixes is the answer.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://music.toucansounds.com/tryremixes

Artist: Brandon Markell Holmes

Title: Try Remixes

Release date: 15th May, 2026

Label: Toucan Sounds

Cat. No: YTCW167

Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Disko Cowboy - Give Ur Luv 2 Em feat. Brandon Markell Holmes (Toucan Sounds)

We love everything and everyone on toucan sounds (Brooklyn, NYC) with a new release by Disko Cowboy with Brandon Markell Holmes on vocals and studio whiz Robert PM on the edit, can I say it'll send you into raptures?

Not sure what the Obi strip is about on the artwork as this release comes as an orginal version with a Robert PM 'extension' edit.

Too late for a We Out Here Festival takeover, (Ed. if anyone heard this in the roller disco, please let me know) but this Disko Cowboy has worked a bit of Flying Mojito Bros style magic (see review HERE) on the 'Give Ur Luv 2 Em' with a bit of desert guitar and the inspired choice of Brandon Markell Holmes (he of 'Fuller' - see review HERE).

I would say prefer the extended edit by label boss, Robert PM as merely because it's longer but we miss the electric guitar solo.

Brandon Markell Holmes has recent had his long-awaited full-length album 'Try' released on toucan sounds featuring Robert PM, his 'Go Ahead' mate Toribio (see review HERE) and loads more - no Dee Diggs, no Byron The Aquarious - let's get 'em on the remix.

BUY LINK: https://music.toucansounds.com/giveurluv2em

Artist: Disko Cowboy
Title:  Give Ur Luv 2 Em feat. Brandon Markell Holmes
Release date: 26th August, 2025
Label: Toucan Sounds
Cat. No: TBC
Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Toribio - Daylight ft. Sharin (Crackazat Remix) (Juliet Records)

Cesár and  Sharin Toribio have seen the light of day; with Crackazat on the remix for our favourite pre-seasonal fesitval track of the year, 'Daylight' as yellow as a sunflower.

 

Unseasonally, summer sunshine themed release with artwork like Carlos Niño and Mia Doi Todd have gone to Kew Gardens' Hot House for a photo shoot.

But 'Daylight' ain't West Coast, it's a great house anthem track as Cesár adds his production skils and drum programming in his New York studio with piano, Fender Rhodes, Juno 60, Moog and anything else available to Sharin's stunning vocals.

And if the original was hot, the ever in demand Crackazat is on the remix.  Whether its Stay True Records, Freerange (with Jimpster), Local Talk (where he was embedded in Sweden) or any other label he's been on,  Crackazat (aka Ben Worral from Bristol) knows how to weave his improvised jazzy keys and 'Daylight' becomes very active nightime entertainment.

In the original and alternate mix options it's a track that certainly hit the funky, soulful, jazzy brief and if you need more Toribio, there's no better place than the collaboration with Brandon Markell Holmes, 'Go Ahead' (see review HERE); not least because it comes with another Byron The Aquarious remix (like Igor Jadranin's 'Contemporary Outdoors' that's 'Massive' for 2025).

If you're familiar with Toribio and Sharin as Conclave, you'll know how good these guys and that Juliet Records have seen the 'Daylight' with this one.

Artist: Toribio 

Title: Daylight ft. Sharin (Crackazat Remix)

Release date: 13th December, 2024

Label : Juliet Records

Catalog Number : JLT-02

Format: 12" vinyl   / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Brandon Markell Holmes - Fuller (Toucan Sounds)

Well, I didn't think we'd only have to wait a couple of months since Brandon Markell Holmes' last single but now we've got the 'Fuller' sounds of a brand new single.

Brandon moved from Chicago to NYC where he's attracted attension from the likes of Derrick Carter, Dee Diggs, musclecars and more to do a remix of his songs after he appeared on Gorillaz album ,‘Humanz'.

No surprise as, once again, the latest single 'Fuller' features his deep soulful vocal (and a odd 'telephone' rap) but I would prefer the extended edit by label boss, Robert PM as it's longer and almost seems like an instrumental version; nice horns too! is is a vinyl release so there is a real B-side; 'I Bet' featuring Liam Berkeley is more R&B.

Toucan Sounds has been one of our favourite labels this year, not only did we love Bradon's 'Go Ahead' (see review HERE), I'm still tossing Dee Diggs' 'Toss It' and 'Brolorizo's 'Agua Bensita' (see review HERE).

That's a strong image for the artwork and if you're in NYC, and the final night of his 3-show residency on November 8-10th at  at Brooklyn’s Sleepwalk to celebrate the launch plus his second album early next year.

Artist: Brandon Markell Holmes

Title: Fuller

Release date: 10th November, 2023

Label: Toucan Sounds

Cat. No: YTCW114

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Brandon Markell Holmes & Toribio - Go Ahead (Toucan Sounds)

I'm reliably informed that Brooklyn is the place to be, well "we all live in Brooklyn, baby" after all. And if you want so be super trendy, you'll want an address in Williamsburg; which is exactly where Toucan Sounds are and they're currently with Brandon Markell Holmes and producer Toribio to 'Go Ahead'.

Brandon has got a great Chicago soulful voice that's so suited to the deep house scene and he's worked with some big names in his 3 years with Toucan Sounds, like musclecars (as in the big Jazzanova remix from January this year, and recently repressed - see review HERE), Anthony Nicholson, Dee Diggs and most recently, 'legend' Derrick Carter and Rogue Vogue.

The rap on the track is by Fat Tony and it's not an average token 'rap for rap sake' as the label indicates, it has an old skool quality to it.  

The single comes with the original version as as slow grind upbeat soul jazzer; it grooves along for over 6 minutes and then they fade the keys solo: we need a proper full length of this one!

And one of our favourite producers/remixes that crosses the genre identities of deep house and beats, Byron The Aquarius who picks up on the "Back Hand" adds some ping-pong bounce and does a Theo Parrish; but a short version!

There's a bonus track, 'Losing Side' by Brandon and Pink Flamingo Rhythm Revue just to show how talented he is.  

There's definitely no losing sides to this game of 2 halves with radio and clean edits. 

Colour & Pitch would have loved to have had this one but it you want to be in the place to be, the release party is in Brooklyn on 25th May at the fabulous, The Sultan Rooms' rooftop with both Brandon and Byron doing live performances; now that's a party.

Artist: Brandon Markell Holmes & Toribio 

Title: Go Ahead with Byron The Aquarius Remix

Release date: 30th May, 2023

Label: Toucan Sounds

Cat. No: YTCW098

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp