According to Wikipedia "dengue fever (UK /ˈdɛŋɡeɪ/ or US /ˈdɛŋɡiː/), also known as breakbone fever, is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles". This particular Dengue Fever, however, is of a much more pleasant variety. It's a band formed in 2001 by a bunch of L.A. hipsters with a strange fascination for a genre almost no-one knew existed: 60's Cambodian psychedelic/surf rock. In a stroke of luck they met and recruited Chhom Nimol, a Cambodian singer who had recently emigrated to the U.S. Their first 2 albums remained firmly in that genre and were sung by Nimol in the Khmer language. The third one contained breakthrough semi-hit "Tiger Phone Card", a duet sung in English. This is their 4th album and sees them moving further from their roots, with a majority of songs in English while Nimol often shares vocals with guitarist Zac Holtzman. The music is by now a melange of indie pop, exotica, garage-surf and new wave. Lead track "Cement Slippers" for example sounds like early B52's while "Family Business" and "A Friend" often remind me of David Byrne. "Thank You Goodbye" is delightfully poppish ala ABBA and has the singer nonchalantly disposing of a lover with lines like "Kiss me goodbye-You're just another stamp in my passport" and "Bonjour-Merci-AuRevoir" (Ouch!) "Uku" is another highlight, the most exotic track of the album and sung exclusively in Khmer, while "Cannibal Courtship" has a more psychedelic 60's vibe. Overall it's an original, fun and exciting record and a good introduction to the band, though I am personally more attracted to their more idiosyncratic beginnings...
**** for Cannibal Courtship, Uku and Thank You Goodbye
*** for Cement Slippers, Family Business, Only a Friend, Sister in the Radio, Mr. Bubbles and Durian Dowry
** for 2012 (Bury Our Heads) and Kiss of the Bufo Alvarius
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