Tom Lynch

Los Angeles-based Cambodian pop band Dengue Fever—inspired by the sixties pop from the country (which was originally inspired by American pop of the era)—returns with its third full-length record, titled "Venus on Earth," another benchmark in the band’s career, which includes being the first Western band to tour Cambodia since Pol Pot. Breathy, alluring singer Chhom Nimol sings in both Khmer and English (the Khmer still works better) and the swingin’ psychedelia makes you want to sip a martini—think James Bond in a ballroom in a foreign country. Even the ballads, atmospheric and weathered, work well—"Monsoon of Perfume," slotted between lighter fare, doesn’t slow the record down, but smoothes the road for it to move with a convincing swiftness. Nothing against Nimol’s skill, but the instrumental, danceable, full-of-personality "Oceans of Venus" could be the album’s best track—that damn farfisa will get you every time. Live, the band’s a tornado.

Dengue Fever plays February 27 at Empty Bottle, 1035 North Western, (773)376-3600, at 9pm. $12.

(2008-02-19)

Also by Tom Lynch

Soundcheck
Brooklyn’s A Place to Bury Strangers promises itself as the "Loudest Band in New York," and from written reports, that may very well be true: the clashing, thunderous guitars, heavily distorted and deformed through various effects pedals
(2008-02-12)

What Dreams May Come
Ambient electronic-pop duo Arms and Sleepers—Cambridge, Massachusetts’ Max Lewis and Mirza Ramic—met in high school and kick-started their musical partnership in college with a band called The List Exists, which eventually disbanded in mid-2006. Tired of the aimlessness of their original band, Ramic and Lewis decided to work together, just the two of them, and Arms and Sleepers was born
(2008-02-12)

Tip of the Week
A dim, sentimental and soulful record, Barton Carroll’s "The Lost One" breezes by with the ease of a summertime flock of birds
(2008-02-12)

Soft Focus
When bands emulate the mournful Brit-pop Oasis spouted in the mid-nineties, I take it in cautiously, as infrequent as it actually happens. Brooklyn’s Soft might have done it best so far with its "Gone Faded"—it would be unfair to label the five-piece a rip-off act, but it would be equally ignorant to not recognize the vast inspiration it has taken from the Gallaghers
(2008-02-06)

Tip of the Week
(2008-02-06)

Hearing Voices
(2008-01-29)

Tip of the Week
(2008-01-29)

Tip of the Week
(2008-01-29)

Looking at Mr. Goodbar
(2008-01-22)

Soundcheck
(2008-01-22)

Tip of the Week
(2008-01-22)

Tip of the Week
(2008-01-15)

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