Colemine Records (not to be confused with Coalmine records) started as a branding exercise for a new album release by its founder at a Subway in Oxford, Ohio in 2007. When retailers in the United States and Japan liked the quality of their first release, the decision was made to become a legit record label and help other artists have their music pressed and sold direct.
Terry and Bob Cole have been running Colemine out of Ohio since 2014 and their line-up of artists has certainly evolved over the years. With almost 140 albums available on their website; music lovers can select from multiple formats including records, CDs, and cassettes.
Aside from the Colemine label, they also operate Karma Chief which includes the Grammy-nominated Black Pumas and an ever-growing and ever-diverse roster which also includes Ghost Funk Orchestra, Neal Francis, Rudy De Anda, GA-20, The Gabbard Brothers, Michael Nau, Andrew Gabbard, and Kendra Morris.
Colemine’s focus is on soul music and many of the releases are already available to stream on Bandcamp, Spotify, and Deezer.
The label produces a quality product with a number of emerging artists who deserve greater exposure. If you love soul music and have a thing for bands like Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Colemine will be right up your alley.
Colemine has 3 new releases this week that look rather interesting and one is a repress that many have been awaiting.
The Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio may have this KEXP session to thank for much of the notoriety they have received since it first premiered. Since then, they’ve secured a record deal, a world renowned booking agent, a publishing deal, international sponsorships, and will be embarking on a national tour this spring.
This session was released on vinyl for the first time for Record Store Day 2018, marking the first full KEXP session ever to be pressed on vinyl. Now it’s available once again on black vinyl!
Andrew Gabbard’s newest single “Bummed” feels like a core sample of his primary influences. Equal parts early Neil Young, Byrds, and Beach Boys flare, but all within his own authentic and unique voice.
According to Andrew, “I’ve always thought of this track like a photograph of my old self. Knowing that the boy in the picture is clueless to whatever life-altering-event is about to change him forever.”
AJ & the Jiggawatts deliver another crispy-fried slab of southern funk and soul. It’s been about 4 years since their last offering, an exercise in heaviness in the way of a 7” on Colemine Records. Now, the crew returns with a new slice of soul on guitarist Andrew Muller’s brand new raw-funk boutique label, Money Mouse Records.
“Karma Is a Bitch” is the rough and tough deep funk side we’ve been waiting for. Signature sly funk vibes trade licks with a sense of existential dread, all while staying incredibly danceable. AJ’s gruff, whiskey burnt vocal performance gives the track the push it needs to go over the edge into mind-meltingly funky territory.
“Wrong Step” is another hype/uptempo dance floor killer complete with call and response breakdown. There’s some crazy sonic manipulation happening here on top of the always solid rhythm section.
Breakneck speed guitar chucking meets percussive horn blasts. It’s a groove that borders on anarchy, and it comes at you fast. Any downtime for AJ and company has definitely been used wisely, and they’ve returned sharper, heavier, and deadlier than ever. Equally super-heavy funk is found on both sides of this record, don’t miss it cause it just don’t quit. Get it on Money Mouse this summer.
