Dengue Fever

Despite existing for over a decade now, LA based six-piece Dengue Fever are something of an unknown quantity to many outside of their home neighbourhood. It's also fair to say they're possibly one of the most unique ensembles to emerge from the Californian underground scene ever, fusing traditional influences such as folk and sun-kissed psychedelia with Cambodian pop music and Khmer rhythms.

Initially formed in 2001, their first two long players 'Dengue Fever' and 'Escape From Dragon House' both featured covers from some of Cambodia's most revered contemporary artists while even the original compositions found themselves translated into the Cambodian Khmer dialect. As the brainchild of brothers Zac and Ethan Holtzman, Dengue Fever's first real breakthrough in terms of widespread recognition came courtesy of 2008's 'Venus Earth', their third album and first to feature entirely English lyrics. Its release on Peter Gabriel's Real World imprint not only earned them a bite at commercial success, but also highlighted the distinctive vocal talents of Chhom Nimol - the only Cambodian member in the band - as a considerable force in their own right.

Continue reading: Dengue Fever, Cannibal Courtship Album Review