Left Ear Records

The Egyptian Lover reaches out to the Arabian Knight for Left Ear remix

Australian label Left Ear Records reissued the cult electro-soul jam by Arabian Knight last year – here’s the amazing video of the track if you missed it. Now, another cult star of electro – the Egyptian Lover – is remixing.

These reissues, remixes and a new audience has reignited a flame in the Arabian Knight. Here he is performing in Melbourne last year.

From a lost Australian electro-soul gem we now have the Egyptian Lover’s remixes. The guys at Left Ear said: “Shahara-Ja’s I’m An Arabian Knight has gained much momentum since it’s 2017 reissue, so much so that the Egyptian Lover reached out to the label proclaiming he’d do a remix. The electro innovator,  who the original release appears to be highly inspired by, seemed like a perfect fit for this sleazy late Night groover. The result is three fresh mixes using elements of the original session tapes and the perfect touch of the Egyptian Lover’s signature 808.”

Here is a preview of the forthcoming remix:

The Egyptian Lover started out as an L.A DJ and began recording around Los Angeles in 1982 as a member of the Radio Crew, as well as Uncle Jamm’s Army. He released some of the earliest rap LPs, but they were less popular than his singles. His most popular single was Egypt, Egypt. After a break in the early 1990s, Egyptian Lover returned in 1994 with Back from the Tomb, his first full-length album in over ten years. The Egyptian Lover also established his own record company, Egyptian Empire Records. His 2015 release, 1984, continued his tradition of using solely analog equipment, including his famed Roland TR-808. His music continues in 2018.

Shahara-Ja ‎– I’m An Arabian Knight (Egyptian Lover Remixes) is out on April 1st.

Listen: C. Scott and Plaster open new World treasures Music radio show

The latest show for KMAH Radio features new electronica from Europe and the U.S, before a tour of African music via Ghana and Uganda, plus Spanish synth-wave and South African bubblegum. Click below to listen:

Transition is the new studio album from experimental electronic producer Plaster (Gianclaudio Hashem Moniri). This LP for Kvitnu has taken a more minimal approach using only analogue gear and hardware in mostly live and improvised compositions. Plaster were originally founded in 2008 by Giuseppe Carlini and Gianclaudio Hashem Moniri in Rome. This WTM show casts off with the throb of opening track Casual Encounter from the album.

Next up is C. Scott (Charlie Scott) with one of his hip-hop influenced jams from the forthcoming EP Pittsburgh Tracks. Scott is an MPC virtuoso who first started producing music in 2009, inspired by the hypnotic, jazz-influenced sound of hip-hop’s golden era. This is Charlie’s return to vinyl with a seven track EP featuring a range of tempos and styles from deep house to trip-hop and more.

The mix then features new recordings of traditional music from Uganda, with four tracks during the show from the Mubashira Mataali Group on UK label Blip Discs, as well as the sublime reissue of Basa Basa’s High Life Music on Amsterdam’s Vintage Voudou Records.

Also featured is Left Ear Records’ latest reissue of Respuesta Alternativa, highlights from the Gumba Fire compilation of South African bubblegum and synth-boogie for Soundway Records and some Brazilian music to end the mix from Tahira’s recent compilation for Jazz and Milk Recordings.

Full tracklist available soon – once it’s written up 🙂

For more shows for KMAH Radio, visit the playlist section below (or click here for more mixes).

 

Left Ear Records revive Respuesta Alternativa’s cassette only ambience and synth-wave

Australian label Left Ear take their musical excavation to Spain and have compiled five deep and immersive compositions by Respuesta Alternativa on vinyl. Respuesta Alternativa, or ‘alternative response’, was a backlash production to traditional music at the time resulting in the cassette only album Grata Compania.

Jesús Mª Catalán (former keyboardist of Clandestine Modes) played keyboards and percussion, while also enlisting the help of Julián C. Pérez on guitars, bass and production. There were also collaborations by Fernando Largo and Carlos Redondo, the EP is dedicated to their memory. It was recorded and mixed at Estudios Frassinelli, in Oviedo, Spain, in 1985 and 1986.

The record is out now and is to the usual high standards of this trans-nationally orientated label.

Minoru ‘Hoodoo’ Fushimi inteview – Japanese translation

It was one of the highlights of 2017 on Left Ear Records. Minoru ‘Hoodoo’ Fushimi’s In Praise of Mitochondria. The great man has kindly translated his interview (he did with WTM earlier this year) for our Japanese readers.

To read it: Click here.

If you missed it first time, visit the WTM Japan section.

Minoru’s music featured in World Treasures Music ‘best of the year’ show. Uploading tomorrow.

Kingsley Bucknor reissue ‘Just U And Me’ finishes year in style for Left Ear Records

This one has been on heavy rotation – Kingsley Bucknor’s Just U and Me LP, from Nigeria, in 1985.

The Aussie label moves further afield and has has selected this trippy electro-funk and boogie fusion to finish 2017. After playing with Fela Kuti in the 1970s and releasing two afrobeat LP’s, Kingsley travelled the globe. In London he laid down six distinctive electro-funk tunes inspired by music he’d heard in the States and Europe and was originally released on Kingsley’s own KAB records.

Minoru ‘Hoodoo’ Fushimi interview

In Praise of Mitochondria begs so many questions. This collection features some of the most innovative and cohesive examples around of supreme proto-electro, vocoder jams and electro-funk music in the world music spectrum. What was happening in Minoru’s world? It’s as if his music was made in isolation from the rest of the movement, while delving into Japanese tradition. And yet the tried and tested electro-funk formula is so distinctively present in this innovator’s work and its calibre is undeniable.

As Minoru reflects: “I often got ideas from some Japanese traditional tunes, and tried to use them in the contemporary electro sound. And it was very exciting to find the similarities of sound tendency between the traditional musical instrument’s character and the electronic synth one.”
Perspectives of this cult musical era are dominated by images of New York and the breakdance phenomena. Minoru’s iconography is both classic, historic, almost anachronistic. His freshness and style are still firmly at the fore though.
Delving further into the electro-funk scene reveals movements in various cities worldwide, where alongside hip-hop and jazz-funk culture, electro-funk and boogie were the soundtracks to secret societies and underground events. Nowadays, record sleuths are trawling bargain bins around the world, digging for one hit wonders of old and exploring electro-funk roots with glee.

It’s evolution into electro on a range of key records – maturing with influences from post-punk and new wave – are being continually re-understood. There is also wider musical lineage that can be more readily traced – of course clearly mapped in Detroit and Europe – but there are also examples emerging from around the world more and more (already uncovered by various labels such as Finders Keepers and Sublime Frequencies for a while now), including such unexpected places as Syria, India, as well as South America and the Far East.

And of course to Japan where Minoru is now becoming more recognised as a true pioneer and torch bearer of the electro-funk movement in the country. The popularity of electro among record buyers today, hooked on the distinctive and infectious grooves made by today’s stars of the scene is apparent. The modern electro movement is strong and is also linked with a resurgent passion for the electro-funk roots. The music can draw on anything from DMX Krew to D-Train, Friends Of Earth to T.W. Funkmasters, and from Stingray to the Soulsonic Force. Minoru ‘Hoodoo’ Fushimi’s music fits perfectly and sounds incredible today.

It is one of the very best compilations of the year. Left Ear Records are responsible.

Latest World Treasures Music show on KMAH Radio

Francois K – FK On The Beach

Batido De Corpo – Goleiro

Kingsley Bucknor – You Gotta Keep On Luvin’ Me (Hot Extended Remix Version)

WITCH – Erotic Delight

Kingsley Bucknor – Just U And Me

Nana Love – When The Heart Decides

Kingsley Bucknor – Don’t Give Up Ya Luv (Instrumental Hot Remix)

Rupa Biswas – Aaj Shanibar (World Treasures Music Edit)

Nova – I Feel Like Getting Down

Saitana – 1, 2, 3

King Jammy – Hog Inna Minty

Sister Nancy – Transport Connection

Culture – Mind Who You Beg For Help (2000 Digital Remaster)

Michel Legris – Elida

Orlando Julius – Omo Oba Blues

Lobi Traore Group – Jugu

Kamasi Washington – The Rhythm Changes

Radio Niger interludes (Sahel Drum-Machine Gun)

Harmonious Thelonious – Third Movement

Sokoko, Nigeria – Radio 1

Black Merlin – Spirit House

Piero Umiliani – Savana

Krikor Kouchian – Zulette

Lemuria – Get That Happy feeling

Oli Ahvenlahti – Grandma’s Rocking Chair

Musi-O-Tunya – The Wings Of Africa

The Chambers Brothers – Time Has Come Today