 " Cold Case Love " is an R & B ballad that lasts for a duration of six minutes and four seconds . It contains an instrumentation infused with a simple piano pattern , thumping bassline , violin and viola strings and electric guitar licks . According to Kitty Empire of The Observer , " Cold Case Love " takes six minutes to " arc from a riveting short story for vocal , organ and life @-@ support machine " into a " denouement laden with an actual living string section " . It has a fluid melody and easier production which according to Jim Farber of Daily News , allows Rihanna " to fully emote , to show the feeling behind the stance " . 
