Artist Dengue Fever

Dengue Fever

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Dengue Fever

Given pop music’s tendency to fudge the facts when old or foreign sounds are appropriated, Ethan and Zac Holtzman probably could have gotten away with finding anyone from Southeast Asia to front their Cambodian-psych-rock tribute band Dengue Fever. But instead, the L.A.-based brothers recruited an honest-to-goodness Cambodian, Chhom Nimol, who also happens to be a star singer back home. It’s a thoroughly singular approach, one which the band asserts full control over on the new Cannibal Courtship. Snaky power-pop keyboards and vocals in Nimol’s native Khmer meld together perfectly, forming a more consistent (and more alluring) mix than the cultural bouillabaisse served up on the band’s previous efforts.

Updated 05/31/2011