Left Ear Australia Vinyl & CDs

Review: Picture Music's works are pining dedications to idealized, fragile beauty. At the same time, the 80s Brisbane duo's name functioned as a nice pun, with every one of their works intended as workable in film, hence "picture music". Here their groundbreaking yet lesser-spotted ambient debut album, first released in 1987 on tape, gets a wax reissue via Left Ear. We're thrown back to a candlelit array of twilit tunes, from the curious, marimba-ey narrative developer 'Ivory Coast' to the light yet evocative, heart chakra-affirming piece 'Landscape'.

Review: For Left Ear's 35th release, the label revisits the archives of Spanish musician Jesus M' Catalan and his project, Respuesta Alternativa. Unlike his previous release, these tracks, which were created between 1987 and 1990, were recently discovered in a forgotten shoebox. While working as a sound technician, Jesus crafted atmospheric tracks in his bedroom, later refining them with collaborator Julian C. Perez. Their music evolved from simple themes with guitars to incorporating vocal samples. Influenced by his Asturian roots, Jesus blended serene and stormy elements, reflecting the contrasting seas of the Balearic and Asturias Islands, creating unique, enduring soundscapes.

Review: Shahara-Ja's 1989 killer "I'm An Arabian Knight" was lost in the depths of time before its much needed reissuing back in 2017, and it is still on repeat here at HQ. The news of a series of remixes coming from the legendary Egyptian Lover seems like the most natural thing in the world, but also a sign of a label getting things absolutely right, so hats off to Australia's Left Ear! There's a dub, a vocal, and an instrumental, so all boxes are ticked off by the 808 wizard, and he comes through with his inimitable flair and mystical charm that we all love some much. What a legend. What a remix EP. Recommended!