Rare Toones

BRAND NEW RELEASE! Aladean Kheroufi - Love!... (Is The Answer) b/w Every Girl - Kimberlite (KIM007) This is an exciting record from one of the more expressive artists to emerge over the past couple of years, and another double sided hit for the Kimberlite stable. Aladean's soulful expression lands a realisation that love isn’t a noun or a something that exists between two people, but rather a verb, an outpouring of healing, compassion and joy, which connects everyone and everything. It’s what the ‘Doctor of Soul’ is offering and this kind of LOVE, might just be what the world needs right now. Musically, this record is pure genius, the a-side is a beautiful soulful ballad which should be received with particular affection on the lowrider scene, whilst the up-tempo flip is tighter than tight as it rifts and shifts into breaks, horns, and slick vocals delivering a dance floor scorcher like no other. Brilliant! Just in from Kimberlite ….. "EVERY TIME I CLOSE MY EYES .... I KNOW YOU'RE RIGHT BY MY SIDE" There was a night that sticks out as I'm writing this. Aladean was over at my place, we were listening to soul records and having some drinks. From beer and Barbara Lynn to tequilla and Thomas East if my memory serves, but that's unreliable at best. Specifics of the night are blurry, but what really struck me since then was the running topic that carried the conversation for the entire evening: a profound passion for love songs. This record leads with ‘Love... (Is The Answer)’, a ballad in line with Aladean's espoused ideology. Velvet vocals, a playful swing to the drums, and intimate exchanges between guitar and keyboard tease at yearnings which harmonising backing vocals satisfy with exultation. This isn't a simple love song sharing romantic feelings for just one person, this is a grand gesture that declares love for everyone. This is a therapy, philosophy, and a recipe to get through hard times. This is help we all need. Were the leading side to be foreplay, then the other will bring you to an earned climax. ‘Every Girl’ hits with a force that will shake you and sets a rhythmic pace that may break you. Reminiscent of Mr Mayfield's 'Move On Up', horns punctuate percussion and bass that are only just barely constrained. This is an expression of pure joy and an exploration of the heart's governance. These two sides serve both as a testament to the glory of love, and as physical representation of a true labour of love. Cutting through the profundity though, our biggest hope is that you just love this music. PRE-ORDER LIVE - FEB 16 5PM GMT WWW.RARETOONES.COM Pre-Orders to ship before Mar 11 2022 LOVE NOTE: Sadly... this lovely release experienced some minor little injuries during manufacture. As such, the labels are reversed on all Promo and Issue copies, also some very minor bubbling on the labels may be apparent, although this is more visible on the Promo copies. These minor superficial defects are a feature across the release and in no way affect the musical quality nor detract from the aesthetic desirability. Who said Love was perfect, often it's our imperfections which hide some of the greatest love songs yet to be heard.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, but... THE ESTIMATIONS ARE BACK WITH A SECOND RECORD! The A side, Heart Of Stone brings fuzz guitar, 4/4 drums, and a Levi Stubbs lead with haunting backing vocals to set a Norman-Whitfield-psychedelia-inspired soundscape for repressed lovers. If you’ve spent your life getting hurt, it’s near impossible to trust and give yourself to someone completely. This song is a hymn for the inhibited, rejected and pained out there who aren’t ready to get back in “the ring”. Turn over the disc and Don’t Go Kissin’ My Baby maintains the Motown theme with a bouncy bubblegum-soul arrangement, this time more typical of mid-60s Frank Wilson or Smokey Robinson productions. Not only are we still in Mr. Gordy’s sphere of influence, but we’re also keeping the continuity here with the subject of trouble in relationships. Between being withholding and being jealous, this release shows that Jory and Co. might not be scoring high on the next Facebook relationship quiz, but musicians aren’t supposed to be good role models anyway, so who’s really surprised? So where’s Kimberlite been for the last two years? Let’s please just accept that it’s been a hard time for everyone, and understand that real life has gotten in the way of a lot of passion projects. We’ve got a lot in the works and are trying to get ourselves back together. Hand printed sleeve designed by the inestimable graphic artist Elaine Banks. You can pre-order now at WWW.RARETOONES.COM Release Date - 10th Dec 2021

PRESALE | Aladean Kheroufi - Sorry If I Hurt You b/w Nothing Ever Changes (KIM-005) We have a new release, it's a fusion of minimalist soul / fuzz. A catchy A side with a floating island ballad on the flip. It won't appeal to everyone, the B side 'Nothing Ever Changes' has something about it and seems to fit with current times, in that whilst in uncertain, sad times, there is a sense of hope and optimism for the future as we discover our fragility and the need to work together selflessly if we are to survive. The Estimation's 2nd release also out in a few weeks time (it's a really good one). Here's the low down on Kimberlite release KIM005. Youtube links at bottom. Aladean Kheroufi - Sorry If I Hurt You b/w Nothing Ever Changes This brand new release from Kimberlite Records features Aladean Kheroufi with the instantly catchy, danceable number 'Sorry If I Hurt You'. But wait!, flip it over to hear 'Nothing Ever Changes' and you are whisked away on a beautiful lush meditation. It's sparse arrangement of simple vocals and caressing horns provide a blanket of warmth through a journey of reflection and realisation. As a lover of soul music it can be tough to lift your head from boxes of fifty year old 45s. From the iron-hand of Berry Gordy in Detroit to amphetamine-zonked working class kids in the North of England, to harmonizing Tejanos, and California car culture, soul music is a genre of subgenres each requiring nuance to properly understand. It’s intoxicating and addictive. If you’re reading this though, you’ve picked up something different. Aladean Kheroufi, a Canadian by way of Algeria has got something new to show you. His sparse, minimalist sound is a fresh and contemporary examination of soul music which we’re proud to press to vinyl. The A side, Sorry If I Hurt You, is a sober exploration of guilt, victimhood, and the toxic power dynamics found in failed relationships. Syncopated rhythm, cutting fuzz guitar, and haunting background vocals along with Aladean’s breathy delivery give this side an atmosphere you’ll need an oxygen tank to survive. Flip the disc and you’ve got Nothing Ever Changes, a superficially sullen ballad that probes for meaning in self, relationships, and a place in the world. A delicate trumpet and flute arrangement lift the tone of this side from a place of darkness to one of hope, and conveys the spiritual growth that's found when such themes are analysed. Release Date: 27th March 2020 Now available for Pre-Order at www.raretoones.com Whole enquiries to raretoones@gmail.com

NEW RELEASE FROM KIMBERLITE RECORDS! (KIM-004) HORNS, HORNS and more HORNS! From Kimberlite Records comes their forth release KIM-004 and this blistering debut single from soulful girl group The Love Rights, a monster double sider that will leave you speechless, breathless or in tears of heart felt joy. Side A is a jaw dropping ballad that harbours familiar echoes of Etta James and Barbara Lynn. The Freddy Benton penned 'Talk of The Town' is almost certainly destined to become a future classic. Meanwhile, Side B reveals a full-on uptempo dancer with a tight funky edge, harmonies and a blistering horn break that would make even Detroit maestro Mike Terry stop and take notice. Both sides of this release are lyrical and musical perfection at its very highest. At the core The Love Rights are big-voiced sisters Amber and Stephanie, with Amber taking lead duties on both tracks here. This, their first release hits hard with a pair of disparate sides that cover a lot of ground. The “A” side Talk of The Town is a firm ballad in the oldies tradition of the East Side Stories compilations and doesn’t even attempt to hide the heavy influence of other big voices like Linda Jones and Barbara Lynn. After a superficial listen you’ll be forgiven for just appreciating a superlative slowie, however Amber’s aggressively authentic female perspective echoes empowerment anthems like You Can't Take It, and I’m A Good Woman by the aforementioned. Flip the disc and now you’ve got something so distinctly different, It’s Time For A Change hits with a punch of brass and positivity and follows through with an infectious dance-tempo. As soon as you fall into the groove, you’re hit with a funk cacophony that exactly fits the songs message of affirmative transformation. This release is as lyrically poignant as it is musically perfect and sums up why the Kimberlite team are so proud to be working with The Love Rights! Available for pre-order at: https://www.raretoones.com/ AND https://kimberliterecords.com/ Pre-orders to be shipped on or before the release date of 19th July 2019 Talk of The Town It's Time For a Change