User Submitted Album
View Submitter's ProfileAlbum Summary
Diamond Mine is a collaborative studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter King Creosote and English electronica musician Jon Hopkins, released on 28 March 2011 through Domino Records. Inspired by the East Neuk of Fife, the album combines Creosote's songs with field recordings by Hopkins. Upon release, Creosote stated: "I really don't know what to do next, because, in some ways, I'm at that peak. I don't know where to go from here." The album was subsequently followed by the EP, Honest Words in September 2011, and the double a-side single, "John Taylor's Month Away"/"Missionary" in February 2012. A deluxe version of the album, titled Diamond Mine (Jubilee Edition), was released in 2012. Diamond Mine was nominated for the 2011 Mercury Prize, with Creosote noting, "I wasn't expecting it at all. [...] There's been a lot of people in the media nailing their colours to the mast with this record, and that's quite encouraging – to know that we've got supporters, and a lot of them. I'm not expecting to win, but just to be on that list. This is something I've been on the outside of forever, and now here we are. It's all good. It makes up for not selling records, anyway!" The album sold 25,000 copies in 2011.
Read more on Wikipedia
Reviews
Diamond Mine is a collaboration between electronic producer Jon Hopkins and folk artist King Creosote. You can forget about the electronic part as this album is full of fragile folk songs. And these are very well composed and produced. Especially "Bats in the Attic" is a great one.
From the antique album cover to the sparse fragile tunes this is not meant for the heady heights of the MTV awards but to be treasured and played late at night with the lights low.
This felt like a very poor outing until it rolled into some of King Creosote’s other work. I guess this is as good as it gets. I did not like this and wish I hadn’t listened to it.
What a stunningly beautiful album. I almost never do this for albums I'm hearing for the first time, but I'm going with 5 stars for this one. Simply sublime.
Hell yeah, love this record so much. Especially your young voice. Instant 5
so beautiful! I’m in love :D I only wish it was longer, I’ll be sure to check out the Jubilee Edition soon - 10/10
What a weird and cool album. At times if feels like an Brian Eno ambient album, but then all of the sudden it will be a folk album. Really cool listen, and I want to check out more stuff from this dude or people (I don't remember how many constitute this band) 4/5
I listen to my records in the very early morning before the rest of my house wakes up. This is an experience before sunrise. It's a little same sounding throughout but it is hauntingly good at it.
This I enjoyed. I will explore more. I really liked the writing and the combination with other soundscapes.
That was lovely
Hauntingly beautiful vocals. I'd heard of King Creosote but didn't really know what to expect. The production from John Hopkins is really clear and complements the vocals really well. Don't be misled by the fact that he's got a background in electronic music, he clearly just knows his way around the equipment to make a good album.
Nice and pleasant. My personal rating: 3/5 My rating relative to the list: 4/5 Should this have been included on the original list? No.
Really enjoyed this, sucker for Scottish vocals so one I’ll come back to.
A great combo of musicians!
I found this to be an excellent neo-folk album. Very well written and unassuming but solid music. The electronica component honestly didn't particularly register while listening - which could charitably be seen as a result of a fully integrated sound. I'll take that view since I liked this a lot.
This was pretty nice to listen to. Didn’t jump out and become my immediate favorite but I did find myself easing into it more and more.
This was a whole rollercoaster before I even started it - Looks like some old country album from the album cover - wait, nope, it was released in 2011. Wait a second, the site says this will be an Electronic Downtempo album. Then I played it and it was a mellow indie folk album, okay then. A pleasant, short listen. Not much wrong with it. I like the guy's vocals and accent. Not sure if it's something I'll ever want to return to though. 3/5.
Kind of a gentle and pleasant album to fall asleep to - definitely meaning this as a compliment. The drawback was that the vocals are too prominent for me; I'd have liked the lovely music to shine a little more or at least on parallel with the vocals which for me keeps this from being a repeat listen. Definite talent and care here, though, which I appreciate. 6/10 3 stars IMO: Belonged in the book? No.
It's not exactly what I expect when I think of electronic music (of any kind), and it's not particularly bad or great. Since it was short, I think I can classify it as an enjoyable experience overall.
Sweet
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Bubble
Fine enough rainy morning music. Unclear what "English electronica musician Jon Hopkins" was bringing to the table, since this was entirely a folky production
Nice
This quiet alt played while I listened
This was definitely very peaceful, but it felt like the friend where the only thing you have to say about them is that they're nice.... yeah I had nothing and it got pretty boring.
Nothing much to say about this one other than it being another bland singer-songwriter outing. Disappointed the instrumentals were so subdued and forgettable, I enjoy Hopkins’ moody house music and thought that would be more prominent here.