Dengue Fever is a band that is unapologetically built around a gimmick; a bunch of Angelenos put together a band with the intention of recreating (and building on) the style of pop rock that apparently existed in pre-Khmer Rouge Cambodia. They found their lead singer (Chhom Nimol - a Cambodian immigrant and Khmer-speaker) through an audition.
If you're thinking that this sounds like the set up for a relatively interesting NPR story about cultural fusion expressed through awful world music, well fair enough. The same thought went through my head when I first heard of these guys.
Yet, the actual sound of the band is infinitely compelling. Cambodian pop is mixed in with psychedelia and post-punk influence, particularly in the amazing track Seeing Hands.
Many of the songs are sung in Khmer exclusively, and I can't help but feeling like I'm listening to them in some post-apocalyptic Pacific Rim gin joint, or in 1960s 'Nam with head full of hash and a 1000-yard stare. Those that are sung in English will not necessarily be more accessible - this is a band whose sound is all about mood and vibe - language doesn't really matter. The one exception is Sober Driver, which is probably the only song that might worm its way onto the radio.
Check them out.
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