Review: Emilia Sisco - Introducing Emilia Sisco (Timmion Records)

Is this the best Christmas present there is this year? Emilia Sisco's debut album being released on Timmion Records is perfect for the advent calender.

Following singles with Cold Diamond & Mink like, 'Let Me In' (see review HERE) and the album opener, 'Say Yes', Emilia Sisco makes a late bid for debut album of the year.

As deep and soulful as you'd imagine from Timmion Records with the house backing band (you'll recall this years' album by Jimi Tenor - see review HERE) are as perfect as any New York Daptones or the equally improbable new soul/funk guys outta Melbourne like Audrey Powne,Tamil Rogeon or even The Pro-Teens. 

All of these tracks are mini-masterpieces or potential singles.  'Your Girl' is particularly strong but this is vintage soul quality; 'Love So Devine' is a prime example but there's no duff track here, from the horns, guitar and sweet gospel harmonies, 'Certainly', 'Too Late' and 'In These Binds' excell.

The label are keen on 'Don't Let Nobody' but by the end of the ten tracks, you'll be in love with the sound of Emilia Sisco and her songs of love and pain; we're already in love with the Cold Diamond & Mink guys.  

I'm feelin' a bit like Joe Tex after this which is a bit weird as Emilia's voice is so pure but it indicates how well she delivers these emotional songs - amazing for a debut album.

Artist: Emilia Sisco 

Title:   Introducing Emilia Sisco

Release date: 6th December, 2024

Label : Timmion Records

Catalog Number : TRLP12016

Format:  LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Emilia Sisco, Cold Diamond & Mink - Let Me In (Timmion Records)

'Let Me In' is not a tribute to footie fans bangin' on the pub doors for early orders - this is pure soul.

This is totally different from the label's last release, Jimi Tenor and Cold Diamond & Mink's LP,  'Is There Love In Outer Space?' (see review HERE) even though the 'house' band is featured in that they've gone deep south for a soul that matches Emilia Sisco's vocals perfectly.

Artist: Emilia Sisco and Cold Diamond & Mink

Title:  Let Me In / Way Past Midnight (Let Me In (Instrumental))

Release date: 9th August, 2024

Label : Timmion Records

Catalog Number : TR760

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Jimi Tenor and Cold Diamond & Mink - Is There Love In Outer Space? (Timmion Records)

Is there a more consistent jazz space cowboy from Finland than Jimi Tenor? We very much doubt it and the new album with label house band,  Cold Diamond & Mink, is packed with 110 year old Sun Ra spaceways.

Sun Ra might be a founding influence but these six track are far more ingrained with 60s soul with the added benefit of Jimi's flautist excellence.

There might only be six tracks but if you were after some space funk 'n' soul, hip-hop roots this is the place to start a modern appreciation.

Long time fan, Gilles Peterson (BBC 6 Music and lots more) recently played 'What Are You Doing' on his Saturday show  and it's a stand-out 'Saturday Night' ESG/post-punk funk party as the title track is deep blue eyed space soul-jazz.

Cold Diamond & Mink are the Finnish version of Daptone, Menahan Street Band or more recently JJ Whitefield & Forced Meditation (and when I say recent, their album, 'The Infinity Of Nothingness' is out today! - see review HERE) and whilst the vocal/instrumental 'Gaia Sunset ' Parts 1&2 is ideal '45' sized retro space funk, the reduced opus is lo-fi-minimal Motown at it's best.

'Orbiting Telesto' and 'Laputa' are more OST/Joe Meek sideways psych tribute at the Gates of Dawn by cosmic Jim and regular readers will know I not a huge fan of "La, la, laars" but that a  minor gripe when you see them "sweaty and hot" with BBC Radiolab synth alarms ('What Are You Doing').

Jimi always looks to me like a jazz-mod that's lost his space-ship (which is a good thing) and whether it's Jimi's work on the Philophon label, (a label run by JJ's brother, Max Whitefield) like the recent 'My Mind' (see review HERE) or this collaboration, he's an absolute star in our eyes and this is a definite 'Must Have' for 2024.

Artist: Jimi Tenor and Cold Diamond & Mink

Title:  Is There Love In Outer Space?

Release date: 31st May, 2024

Label : Timmion Records

Catalog Number : TRLP12014

Format: LP / Digital / Bandcamp