{"title":"Leong Lau","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"dragon-man-2","title":"Dragon Man","description":"\u003cp\u003eOnly a decade ago Leong Lau remained a well-hidden Malaysian-Australian treasure, known only to small circles of Australian record collectors. In 2013 we met Leong in person at the Brisbane state library, where after a long and somewhat transcendental ‘conversation’, received his blessings to re-release his music.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 2014, we reissued his sophomore album ‘That Rongeng Sound’ and later in 2021, his sole single ‘late Night Flyer. In 2024, we are going back to finish the triangle of Leong releases, with a repress of his debut 1976 album ‘Dragon Man’. A raw and electrifying album that continues to stand the test of time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDragon Man might best be described musically as psyc\/rock, however the significant use of soul\/funk and jazz melodies adds a unique musical depth that makes it hard to categorise. However, what truly sets Leong apart is his distinct vocal style, delivering half sung\/half spoken lyrics in a stereotypical Aussie accent that comes across more like a sermon than what might be conceived as ‘traditional’ songs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMoreover, in a time where the Australian music industry and its performers’ musical styles were dictated by major labels, Leong began to break down those barriers by self-releasing his music. This rewarded Leong creative control, where he was able to dictate the musical and cultural themes, with songs like ‘Dragon Man’ and ‘Deep In The Jungle’ that both pay homage to his unique Chinese\/Malay heritage. That said, Dragon Man is both a significant musical and cultural statement that’s just as poignant today as it was then.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Left Ear Records","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50450989121867,"sku":"2208681","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":51246138949963,"sku":"2229973","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/dragon_man_cover_17f0fa51_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727116710"},{"product_id":"late-night-flyer","title":"Late Night Flyer","description":"\u003cp\u003eLeft Ear returns where they started, further highlighting the music of the enigmatic Leong Lau. Arguably one of the most unique artists to come out of Malaysia\/Australia during the 70’s, Leong migrated to Australia to pursue an education in Engineering. He finished his degree but instead took a different ’career path’, choosing to explore his creativity. From an early age Leong had been trained in the arts including both Chinese opera and flute. Leong recalls “making flutes out of grass weeds”, as he couldn’t afford a flute. It was this DIY ethos that Leong attached to his lifestyle. He found himself promoting festivals in the infamous town of Nimbin before moving to Sydney where he would record a small body of music with the sessional musicians he was playing with daily in the venues of Sydney’s Circular Quays. Leong’s ‘Late Night Flyer’ was the single to his supposed second album, which was allegedly manufactured but unfortunately a copy of the LP is yet to surface. One thing is for certain, two tracks landed on a 7” and together with a predominantly Chilean backing band known as ‘The East-West Unity Band’ they created two raw latin influenced jazz-rock tracks that stand the test of time. The A-side a homage to the omnipresent characters that frequented the after-hours jazz clubs Leong performed at. Whereas the B-side is named after his favourite philosopher Herbert Marcuse’s novel ‘One Dimensional Man’, which sees Leong take a more psyched out approach.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Left Ear","offers":[{"title":"Black | 7\"","offer_id":50988623003979,"sku":"1127941","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/abd6f512-7450-4e67-95ba-bf15895906fc_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1734527868"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/leong-lau.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}