COLD DIAMOND Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Timmion is one of our favourite labels out of anywhere, let alone Finland. 'here comes another golden soul cut from the frozen north with Jonny Benavidez back in collaboration with the ever delightful grooves of Cold Diamond & Mink. The A-side is a heart melting soul ballad in the form of 'My Echo, Shadow and Me' which manages to pay homage to the classics while bringing something new. On the flip is a more dreamy and mid tempo soul sound in the Mandells'esque 'Playing The Fool' which carries you away to a better place.

Review: We just love hearing new soul and funk. Sure, a rare single from the 60s or 70s goes a long way in satisfying our needs, but how good is it to hear NEW music!? That's why we rate Finland's Timmion imprint so highly; they always come through with the goods, and there isn't a single EP they've put out that hasn't interested us... or flown off our shelves! This time, Jonny Benavidez, Cold Diamond and Mink team up for the absolute sexiness that is "Let's Get Together", a seductive soul ballad that is bound to lit up the room instantly! The instrumental is rather fine, too.

Review: Coming through on Timmion's offshoot Stylart Records, Jonny Benavidez Cold Diamond and Mink have exactly what it takes to soothe those winter blues with a little bit of their own bluesy spirit. To be exact, this is pure-class soul music from the deepest part of their hearts, but there is a strong element of melancholia at its core, and that's what gives "Tell Me That You Love Me" its sparkle and mystique. Mink's voice is like velvet on this beautiful recording, and even the instrumental sounds like the sort of gem that everyone from Floating Points to Theo Parrish could dig. New music, too!

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: "Remember Me" was one of the most effervescent and up-tempo moments on Carlton Jumel Smith's 2019 album "1634 Lexington Avenue", so it's terrific to see Timmion giving the song a seven-inch single release. Backed by in-house Timmion band Cold Diamond & Mink, New York's modern "Mr Soul" delivers a scintillating lead vocal above a rousing 1960s soul instrumental laden with killer bass, sustained horns and bustling breakbeats. It comes accompanied by Cold Diamond and Mink's instrumental version, which as usual with Timmion is exclusive to this "45" release. If fresh, sixties-sounding soul is your thing, you need this in your life.

Review: Since first joining forces with Timmion's in-house band Cold Diamond & Mink two years ago, New York singer Carlton Jumel Smith has delivered a string of sublime singles and a must-check album, 2019's "1634 Lexington Avenue". It's from that set that his latest single is taken. "Help Me (Save Me From Myself)" is another emotive, 1960s soul style gem in which Smith passionately cries for help from a mystery woman over a typically on-point Cold Diamond & Mink backing track rich in hazy horns, wah-wah guitars and a laidback mid-tempo groove. The quality of the group's playing and production is laid bare in all its glory on the flipside instrumental version, which is naturally exclusive to this "45" release. Like the rest of Smith's singles, this is a must-have.

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.

Review: Since making his debut back in the early 1990s, Carlton Jumel Smith has periodically popped up on a variety of soulful house and modern soul releases. Here the little-known vocalist takes a different approach, re-casting himself as a throaty, James Brown influenced '70s soul singer. He's at his heartfelt, full-throttle best on "Can't Love You Any More", a deliciously heavy and authentic chunk of Southern-fried deep soul complete with additional falsetto parts from fellow singer Pratt. The key to the track's success is the fantastic backing provided by Cold Diamond & Mink. Proof is provided on the flip via the band's effortlessly good instrumental take.