Dengue Fever Release Venus On Earth Blends Cambodian Pop With Psychedelic Rock Music

The band’s music has been featured in a number of film and television shows including CITY OF GHOSTS, MUST LOVE DOGS, BROKEN FLOWERS, HBO’s hit series TRUE BLOOD and twice on Showtime’s, WEEDS. They have released three albums, Dengue Fever, Escape From Dragon House, Venus On Earth and released their DVD/CD soundtrack to the documentary Sleepwalking Through The Mekong on April 14, 2009.

Dengue Fever's self-titled debut album was released in 2003. All lyrics on the earlier albums are sung in Khmer, the third album introduces some songs in English. Many of the songs are covers of 1960s Cambodian rock tunes by such artists as Sinn Sisamouth, Pan Ron, and Ros Sereysothea, but some are originals, first written in English by the Holtzmans before being translated.

In 2005, the band toured in Cambodia, and were acclaimed. The film Sleepwalking Through the Mekong, documents the band's touring in Phnom Penh and other major cities. There, Chhom Nimol, whose family included renowned singers from the 1970s onward, reconnected with the Cambodian fanbase, many of whom remembered the heyday of Cambodian rock from that era.

Also in 2005, their second album, Escape from Dragon House, was released, and contained more original songs. It was re-released on limited edition colored vinyl on August 26, 2008. Escape from Dragon House was one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005.

In June 2008, Real World Records released Venus On Earth in all territories outside of the U.S. and Canada. [2] Peter Gabriel, founder of Real World Records, said this of the deal: "We have Dengue Fever coming out on Real World Records (outside of the USA) - it’s really cool stuff, with the small Cambodian singer and big American guys behind! They’re California based but have taken 60’s Cambodian pop as their main source of inspiration and it’s done with a lot of style. It’s spirited, impassioned stuff." "Venus On Earth" was selected as one of the best world music records of 2008 by the iTunes Store.

Dengue Fever has entered into partnerships with a number of charitable organizations to support causes in Cambodia. They are involved with the wildlife and forest conservation organization Wildlife Alliance, and have donated recordings for charity records with Sweet Relief Fund, a charity that aims to provide financial assistance to musicians dealing with illness, disability, or age-related issues.

Click the link below to read more and listen to samples of Dengue Fever's album.

Dengue Fever is a six-member band from Los Angeles who combine Cambodian pop music and lyrics with psychedelic rock. They were formed in 2001 by Ethan Holtzman and his brother Zac after Ethan was inspired by a trip to Cambodia. As Ethan and Zac were searching for a vocalist to sing in Khmer, lead singer Chhom Nimol was discovered in a nightclub in Little Phnom Penh area of Long Beach, California. She was already a well-known karaoke singer in Cambodia, but decided to move to the US after visiting her sister, and thought it was a good chance to make more money to send to her family back home. Zac performs vocals and guitar, while Ethan plays the Farfisa organ. Rounding out the band are bassist Senon Williams, drummer Paul Smith, and David Ralicke on brass.

Click here for more...

484 Music provides World Music and World fusion album reviews and great deals on CDs from artists around the globe.