Dengue Fever: Cannibal Courtship

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LA’s Dengue Fever is gaining momentum in music critic and indie rock circles thanks to their genre blurring. World grooves meet psych pop, new wave and a little classic rock as Cambodian singer; Chhom Nimol leads the charge in her quirky, Blondie-esque croon. The band drops Cannibal Courtship on Concord Records. 

Courtship is a rare album with its own sound. “Only a Friend” carries a versatile, horn inflected groove that shines underneath Nimol’s odd voice.  While she occasionally sings in her native Khmer, the band’s backing vocal bridge drops in English and farfisa organ rolls highlight this standout. The band is very nimble and able to subtly mine a darker, moody sound on “Sister in the Radio”, bringing a creepy yet mellow Sabbath lurch to the proceedings. “Kiss of the Bufo Alvarus” finds a 60’s instrumental spy groove. It is all slinky and sultry, winsome and coy, expertly crafted and impeccably played.  Conga percussion and horn exploration lend a touch of African ambiance as the song fades into the distance.

While Dengue Fever is able to build a creative sound with few touchstones, the band highlights Nimal’s voice too often and the idiosyncratic style becomes grating as the album wears on. When other band members chime in, there is a distinct sense of space and relief. The band delves too deep into near kitsch, likely a highlight for many, but this tendency subtracts from their obvious power as a psych pop band.  

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