Review: James Juke ft. Gabalicious, Cakes Da Killa - A Little Lost (Kitty Ca$h, Supertaste and Wuhryn Dumas Remixes) (Deluxxe/Toucan Sounds)

You might be 'A Little Lost' with all of James Juke's mates pilling in on this new EP of 10 tracks but if you don't know, he's a bit of a 'Blue Sky' DJ, curator, house-music tastemaker in that there Brooklyn; even if he was born in San Francisco!

Bright and bouncey as the tracks are, there's a underground vibe to this that totally matches the toucan sounds playsheet as disco, soul, jazz unpin the classic house underbelly which you can find at his quarterly party, 'The Jukeboxx' (Ed. did you see what he did there?) which echoes NY Loft culture.

And we love this flip with tracks 'Haters & Congratulators', 'Need A Beat' feat. Cakes da Killa, Theo's 9 To 3' and 'Lovetrains' interlude (one for fellow NYC houser and train lover Zackery Berns - see review HERE).

Even more fun is that this new package gives us the originals, the extended version and 3 NEW remixes.   Perhaps with a little sense of irony, Kitty Ca$h takes 'Need A Beat' right up the M1, speeding past cop-cars and straight into the main room.

Love Language feels like it should go all Charles Stepney/Deodato strings but, again, to get you out of comfort groove there's a Cakes da Killa raps that brings on some touchy feely love with hint of disco-Dilla-dub; it's a 'Theo's 9 To 3' update that reads between the lines.

If you can put all his into one 'night out' non-clean version, it's the acid-discofied Supertaste remix of 'Haters & Congratulators'.

All together, its a bit of a club night in itself as an EP, the extended versions are great but you must try the remixes.

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

Artist: James Jukes

Title: A Little Lost EP (Kitty Ca$h, Supertaste and Wuhryn Dumas Remixes)

Release date: 12th June, 2026

Label: Toucan Sounds

Cat. No: YTCW156DLX

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: CŒUR ACIDE - CŒUR ACIDE EP (toucan sounds)

Touch this all night long as CŒUR ACIDE takes us on "a retro-futurist dance experience crafting seductive, high-fashion acid house as signals from a lost future..." OUT TODAY!

You'll recall that Vancouver’s Pat Lok and Berlin-based Megan Vice meet "at the crossroads of R&B, House, and electronic club culture" with 'Spectrum Remixes' with Sebb Junior & JIALING (see review HERE), well here he's joined  Haitian & Mexican vocalist F-MACK. as ŒUR ACIDE in a "mythical musical universe".

We're encouraged to think Empire of the Sun meets Hercules and Love Affair as their self-titled EP ranges from explosive 90s rave (LETS SWEAT) to classic ballroom anthems (WHISPER FROM ABOVE, BITE ME) and soaring 80s rnb (ACID HEART, BOUGIE).

Emerging as time-travelling refugees from a dystopian future where art and intimacy are outlawed, CŒUR ACIDE is not simply a band, but a call to rebellion... each song a memory fragment, part of a cinematic storyline. Having debuted their immersive live show to an exclusive, sold-out crowd in Mexico City, which also unveiled their signature tea - a central element of the storyline - this dynamic duo is only beginning to unveil an exciting world at the crossroads of music, fashion and futurism.

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

Artist: CŒUR ACIDE 
Title:  CŒUR ACIDE EP
Release date: 4th June, 2026
Label: Toucan Sounds
Cat. No: YTCW168
Format:   Digital / Bandcamp

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: Pat Lok & Megan Vice - Spectrum Remixes w/ Sebb Junior & JIALING (toucan sounds)

We know that "Girls on the Spectrum just wanna dance" from a couple of months ago but this is the 'Spectrum' remixes which is all toucan sounds positive too!

Even so, this is not exactly like the last release we featured on YATM, Disko Cowboy (with Brandon Markell Holmes) on vocals - see review HERE - as Brooklyn, NYC hosts Vancouver’s Pat Lok and Berlin-based Megan Vice meet "at the crossroads of R&B, House, and electronic club culture" now with added jazz-funk!

We loved the single that came out with 'Waste My Time' and instrumental versions (see review HERE) but here's a couple of remixes that you're bound to hear at the release party this Friday, 5th December, at 'Dead Letter No. 9', 63 Grand St, New York, NY 11249-4110.

Seb 'Sound Of Life' Junior (see review HERE) pumps even more dance/life the first remix and then does some more clever stuff to the jazz with a dub element.

Brooklyn 'local' JIALING gets on the breaks focusing on the 'spectrum' and 90s keys to rave about with a speed percussion lesson - kicks in the nuts this one.

Talking of kicks and balls, it's a bit of a bummer if you've been on a press junkit to FIFA's World Cup draw yesterday and have had to come back to the office before Friday; but at least you can now get this on vinyl.

BUY LINK (Tickets): https://posh.vip/e/class-9-cargo-series-pat-lok-kita-robert-pm-first-fridays-free-dead-letter-no9

BUY LINK (Download) / PRE-ORDER (12" Vinyl): https://music.toucansounds.com/spectrum

Artist: Pat Lok & Megan Vice
Title:  Spectrum Remixes w/ Sebb Junior & JIALING
Release date: 5th December, 2025
Label: Toucan Sounds
Cat. No: YTCW155RMX
Format:   Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Pat Lok & Megan Vice - Spectrum (Toucan Sounds)

We love everything and everyone on toucan sounds (Brooklyn, NYC) including this new release that's 'Spectrum' positive that's not a waste of time.

Even so, this is not exactly like the last release we featured on YATM, Disko Cowboy (with Brandon Markell Holmes) on vocals - see review HERE - as Brooklyn, NYC hosts Vancouver’s Pat Lok and Berlin-based Megan Vice meet "at the crossroads of R&B, House, and electronic club culture"

And that's pumpin' grime/punk up ya volume expecially on the extended instrumental versions of both tracks, 'Spectrum' and 'Waste My Time'.

If you're lucky enough to be in Brooklyn on 5th December, there's a release party at 'Dead Letter No. 9', 63 Grand St, New York, NY 11249-4110.

Come celebrate this release with us in Brooklyn Dec 5 at Dead Letter No. 9 - get tickets here ***
BUY LINK (Tickets): https://posh.vip/e/class-9-cargo-series-pat-lok-kita-robert-pm-first-fridays-free-dead-letter-no9

BUY LINK (Download): https://music.toucansounds.com/spectrum

Artist: Pat Lok & Megan Vice
Title: Spectrum
Release date: 28th October, 2025
Label: Toucan Sounds
Cat. No: YTCW155DJ
Format:   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: lovetempo - Live Or Die By Love (Toucan Sounds)

From the title you might think lovetempo has been watching too many Bond movies over the festive season whilst in reality his lovefinger will send you into raptures.

You may know lovetempo from previous singles 'But I Do', 'Maybe In Another Life' or even 'Turnaround' on Razor-N-Tapes' compilaton 'Family Affair Vol. 2 (see review HERE) but the track 'Live Or Die By Love' is so uplifting it's joyous in every sense as, to misquote Miles Davis, Gospel Not Gospel, Disco Not Disco, Toucan Not Toucan.

Gilles Peterson got "boyhood fan" over excited in his recent interview (see below) with the Level 42 comparisions but 'Live Or Die By Love' is lovetempo's "manifesto statement" and nothing like 808 BEACH & Amy Douglas 'WHATEVER DADDY SAYS' (see review HERE) or is it?  

Well it is if you're of the Toucan Sounds Co-op view, get your club card out for this one.  It is anthemic and manifesto; it's only problem is that it's too short, the sax, vibes, piano could work out a mix a mega 12", dub and/or instrumental.  Its irresitable and addictive, it's got me in raptures (Ed. that's enough of that). Oh! I did I say Mattie Safer used to be in The Rapture and Poolside.  

'We Can Make It Happen' squeezes a bit of West Coast meets Disco string stabs into Fania's back yard that's added to with the cheatin' 'Part-Time Love Affair'.  

This release is a great companion to Mattie's previous hits 'The Sun' and 'But I Do' and it's clear he's a super talent.  If you like the work of Jkriv, Toribio & Sharin, Clive From Accounts you'll be as excited as Gilles Peterson with this as it is blessed with sunshine and love.

P.S. Gilles Peterson's interview with lovetempo on Lot Radio (in association with Worldwide FM) from NYC for the Winter Jazz Festival starts 12:00 and the whole show is worth a listen 

Link: GILLES PETERSON LIVE FROM NYC at The Lot Radio | WorldwideFM

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

Artist: lovetempo
Title: Live Or Die By Love
Release date: 21st February, 2024
Label: Toucan Sounds
Cat. No: TBC
Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: 808 BEACH & Amy Douglas - WHATEVER DADDY SAYS (toucan sounds)

When you've loved everything on Toucan Sounds, you've got to be a little concerned by a release entitled 'WHATEVER DADDY SAYS', right?  No need to worry, it's Amy Douglas leading the 808 Beach duo of hit makers and it bangs NYC!

We loved 'You' for obvious reasons (that's was Toucan Sounds' release by Anthony Nicholson featuring Brandon Markell Holmes & Chris Rob - see review HERE) and indeed everything else they've done so big hands in the air bangin' house by 808 Beach (aka John 'J-C' Carr & Bill Coleman, who as a duo and individually seem to have worked with anyone that's had a major commercial release).

And whilst there's eight versions (a combination of JC and 808 remixes), you'll want to pre-fix any of them with 55secs of Amy's acapela version for it's depth of deep vocals. 

So whilst Amy is belting it out on the original an extended nu-disco versions, there's a angular 808 Beach Ol' Brat Mix, a modified Ol' Brat Club version and an even more up at it Glitterbox, "J-C" Carr Glitter Mix: Brilliant stuff, but it stands out even more with the 808 Beach Sub Soul club version!

This release is as good as a Pete Tong Friday Night Essential Selection all on one and that's not just Daddy saying it.

Artist: 808 BEACH & Amy Douglas 
Title: WHATEVER DADDY SAYS
Release date: 25th October, 2024
Label: Toucan Sounds
Cat. No: YTCW132
Format: 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: BROLORIZO - Agua Bendita (Toucan Sounds)

Who would have thought that two foundling members of a Mexican women's dance collective, would have the most talked about EP coming out on Brooklyn's Toucan Sounds label?

Well, that's what we have with Estefani Brolo and Ana Rizo, collectively known as BROLORIZO (did you see what they did there?) have done.

Fans like Sumsuch have already got very excited about the track 'Sirena' (quite rightly so) but could 'Agua Bendita' be a Latin-disco version of 'Ingwe' (Muzari & Gugupash - see review HERE) with it's jazz keys and slightly dubbed out electric guitar? Well, I'm saying so and i'm not going to be the only one.

Expect New Yorkers that love this sound like Mr Vega, Nickodemus, Eli Escobar et al will be playing this all summer.  But it'll be interesting to see if the uptempo and deeper 'Sirena' gets the attention with it's big Baleraic guitar solo.

With artwork that looks like one of those SM vids of paint on oil dips with the back end of a large fish (possibly carp), it all adds to the fusion.

Those who Insta can see more at @brolorizo and if you need check out more Toucan Sounds, there's no better place than their Brandon Markell Holmes & Toribio release, 'Go Ahead' (see review HERE)

Artist: BROLORIZO

Title: Agua Bendita feat. Lino Bastos

Release date: 21st July, 2023

Label: Toucan Sounds

Cat. No: YTCW106

Format:  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