Rumbling Down Under
Although somewhat lost in the mists of time, the musical legacy of Malaysian Leong Lau continues to resonate.
WE are all made the same. But are we, really? If so, how could Diego Maradona exhibit ability on the football pitch which Brazilian rival Zico described as God- given? How could Jimi Hendrix, more than 40 years after his death, still be regarded as the greatest electric guitarist that ever lived? Or how could Albert Einstein have an intellectual brain that defies human comprehension?
Leong Lau, similarly, has talents and abilities that are simply incomprehensible. He’s not about to be submitted as a case study for Stan Lee’s Superhumans, but one would have to wonder how an individual could be capable of not only being a jack of all trades, but a master of many, too.
His name certainly won’t strike a chord with the uninitiated, in fact, not even with most people who operate in the music- making sphere, which he thrives in, but Lau’s story is still one of mind- boggling proportions.
In late 1969, Lau found himself in Adelaide, Australia. The plan was for him to study medicine, upon the behest of his father, but engineering seemed to cater more to his evolving personality, so, he eventually switched courses. Ultimately, though, numbers and science gave way to musical notes and art, a pursuit that would see him release critically acclaimed albums and cult classics such as That Rongeng Sound and Dragon Man in the mid 1970s.
These albums boast a sound and style that fuses ethnic Malaysian flavours with western psychedelic textures. Those sounds remain largely “lost” to the current generation, but are being kept alive by re- releases and Lau’s more recent activity on YouTube from his home in Brisbane, most of which display his virtuosity on piano, flute and a variety of instruments.
But his story really began much closer to home, in a historic city, in fact – Muar.
“I grew up in Muar, Tangkak and Sagil, as my ( medical practitioner) father was posted to these places. He also had a strong interest in traditional Chinese medicine, from which I learnt alternative healing practices,” said the 64- year- old, setting the scene for his formative years in Johor, in an e- mail interview recently.
Living by Sg Muar, Lau indulged in pastimes common to rural folk – he climbed and plucked mango, guava and rambutan from trees, caught fish and even trained songbirds to sing. Life at home was simplistic enough, too, with his older sister home schooling him as a young boy ( she also trained him in classical piano from the time he was four), though it was his nurse mother who would be responsible for him having a command of four different languages.
“She was a nurse but she took training to be a language teacher, teaching Japanese during World War II and Chinese when the Occupation was over, and then Malay and finally English. So I learnt four languages as a child.”
His childhood exploits also exposed him to both Hindu and Islamic cultures, from which he gained appreciation of the Tirukkural ( Tamil sangam literature) and sufi practices, which were strong in Johor then. “These influences are apparent in the funk track Salem Abdullah from That Rongeng Sound ( 1977) and the Vedic legends of Mahabratha were expressed in Ghost Drums from Dragon Man,” he elaborated.
When he eventually enrolled in a Chinese school, Lau found himself an exemplary student and sportsman. “I took the gold medal in 800m events, organised biological camps and conducted chorus singing.”
High school saw a similar trajectory of academic and sporting excellence, with Lau as captain of Muar High School’s badminton team and chairman of the Literary and Debating Society, the state’s best debating team.
Popular music eventually figured into Lau’s life, but not without a basic understanding of classical music, courtesy of Italian tenors Enrico Caruso and ( American- born) Mario Lanza. “This was all upon my father’s insistence, so, my favourite songs started off as O Sole Mio! and Come Back To Sorrento.”
Playing the sounds of the day, Lau and his band in Malaysia rolled out material by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Hendrix and even The Shadows. “I played with them for seven years, playing at weddings, festivals and functions.”
Armed with Hofner electric and acoustic guitars, several flutes, trumpets and saxophones, a fast developing Lau was quickly learning the trade and the equipment that went with it. He pretty much played whatever was required of him, which explains how he is able to play seven instruments, including percussion.
The time eventually came for him to pack his bags and head Down Under. “When I got there ( St Mark’s college in Adelaide), the first thing I did was buy an acoustic guitar ( since he couldn’t lug all his gear with him) from a fellow student and join a jug band.”
The country and folk excursion wouldn’t last long, though. After acquiring a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, he joined rock band Highrise Express and plied the club circuit.
Leong found himself firmly entrenched in the counter culture of 1970s Australia, and while honing his craft, he had a chance meeting with Frank Zappa, following the American music maverick’s concert there.
Most artistes back in the day simply plied their trade and hoped for a record label to pick up on them, but Lau was advised by Zappa to take his destiny into his own hands. “He recommended I set up my own label, own all my rights and control the distribution of my music.”
That would prove to be sound advice indeed, so, he set up Sunscape Records, and through the 1970s, That Rongeng Sound and Dragon Man apart, he managed to release three more albums, namely Nature Music ( 1978), One Dimensional Man ( 1978) and Phoenix Dancing ( 1979).
“I was fortunate that a DJ took to Dragon Man, and so, the album had constant airplay. We actually made five albums, three of which have disappeared. There are people who could be keeping masters of my music, perhaps to exploit the demand later,” intimated Lau, unwittingly highlighting the often poor archiving standards of yesteryear.
Lau’s music is eclectic to the point it defies description, but the East- meets- West flavour is distinct, with funk the bedrock of his style. He has embraced the description of one fan and seems comfortable with the superlative.
“In the 1970s, I was simply a rock musician. After touring the world a couple of times and returning to Australia a couple of years ago, I found out, to my surprise, I was categorised as a ‘ killer funk’ musician.”
While music remains a constant pursuit, Lau has dedicated just as much time to his conservation efforts through a campaign aptly labelled “Save Planet Earth”. He is currently working on a film with a cast of German actresses and dancers, with French technical support. “We want to show how the dumping of radioactive waste in the Middle East, presently being done by Israel, can seep into the layers of the Earth’s crust.”
Lau has an irrepressible zest for life, and in the body of work he’s laid down through his years, music or otherwise, there’s this irrepressible feeling this man is going to be around for a while yet. that rongeng Sound is available on LP and digital downloads from www. rushhour. nl/ store_ detailed. php? item= 78076 and itunes. apple. com/ au/ album/ that-rongeng- sound/ id950630805 respectively.