COLD DIAMOND レコード& CD

Review: Finland's Timmion Records should, by now, be categorised as leaders in the leftfield soul game. Their catalogue contains a wealth of both old and new talents and, whenever we see that famous 'TRI' sign hit our shelves, we just know we're in for the good shit. Thankfully, this new collaboration by the mysterious Cold Diamond and Mink is right up there with the rest of the label's wacky, soulful mind-melters, except that here we head into even deeper quarters. The 7" contains two parts of "Queen Of Soul", a rough, wavy piece of lo-fi strumming that uses its wonderfully exchoing guitars to guide the listener into a state of total psychedelia. We love it, and we suggest you to cop one now before it pops up for the triple the price in a decade's time. Bliss.

Review: So far, every collaboration between Timmion house band Cold Diamond & Mink and rising star Carlton Jumel Smith has been soulful gold. It goes without saying that their latest hook-up, "I'd Better", is another future soul classic. On the A-side version (taken from Smith's debut album "1634 Lexington Avenue"), Smith provides a raw, heartfelt and impassioned vocal over Cold Diamond & Mink's formidable backing track. This can be heard in all its glory on side B, where their 1960s soul style drum breaks, guitars, bass and fuzzy horns take centre stage.

Review: If you're a talented soul vocalist who wants an authentically fuzzy late 1960s sound, you could do worse than join forces with Timmion Records' in-house backing band, Cold Diamond & Mink. They're in fine form here providing admirable backing to rising star Carlton Jumel Smith. "Love Our Love Affair" is undeniably attractive, with Smith's confident and emotion-rich vocal rising above the band's hazy horns, languid trumpet solos, sun-bright guitar licks and lolloping, hip-hop style funk-soul beats. As is customary, the band's tidy instrumental version can be found - and enjoyed - on the flip.