Dengue Fever’s Cannibal Courtship

Dengue Fever                                                                                                                     Cannibal Courtship                                                                                                               By Bert Mann

Dengue Fever’s latest release, Cannibal Courtship, tills the same fertile musical soil as on their previous 3 CD’s. 1960’s inspired surf/garage rock with Ethiopian jazz touches sung in English and Khmer. Cannibal Courtship is the band’s most focused release to date. Gone is the bravado of the first two albums where they were getting their footing, daring someone to call them out for being so different. This band is sure of what they’re doing.
“Cement Slippers” is an angry back and forth duet of a couple who can’t stand being together, but haven’t figured out how to be apart. This song seems to be almost self referential sequel to “Tiger Phone Card” on the band’s previous CD, where lovers dealing with the difficulties of a long distance relationship. Did they finally move in together and discover there was nothing there?
The songs sung in Khmer are exotic and strangely familiar. Singer Chhom Nimol’s voice floats lightly over the instrumentation. During “Sister in the Radio” Nimol’s voice is high, trebly and filled with heartache, leaving the listener to wonder what or who made her feel this way. The organs and saxophone soften the angular edges of the rock/pop songwriting format, blurring the lines and sounding a lot like jazz.
“Kiss of the Bufo Alvarius” is pure spy noir jazz, calling to mind Sean Connery as James Bond in the far East, surrounded by beautiful women, unconcerned with any looming danger.
With their first album, Dengue Fever could have easily been dismissed as a novelty act, plumbing a forgotten musical form for a quick buck. But 4 CD’s on they prove they have what it takes to go the distance, creating their own extraordinary musical legacy in the process.
Rating: 8/10