Conceived by brothers, this six-piece group from Los Angeles manages to capture the sound of its inspiration, 60s Cambodian rock music. Along with former Beck touring saxophonist David Ralicke, Radar Bros. bassist Senon Williams, and drummer Paul Smith the two brothers, Zac (guitar) and Ethan (Farfisa organ) Holtzman, create the lush musical layers that act as the foundation for singer Chhom Nimol. Enlisted by the group after a performance at the Dragon House, a club in Long Beach Cambodian community of Little Phnom Penh, Nimol is truly the icing on the cake for the band having peformed for the King and Queen of Cambodia.

Dengue Fever’s eponymous debut manages to fully capture the essence of 60s Cambodian rock. While much of the genuine feel could be credited to the fact that the group has chosen to primarily include covers of classic 60s Cambodian performers like Ros SereySothea, these songs couldn’t be executed on such a level if it weren’t for the talent of the band. Nimol’s Khmer expansive vocal range, in addition to the punchy bass, full sax sound, and haunting Farfisa, combine with the vintage surf guitar sound and drums to create a complete subdued collage of sound that invites the listener in like an old, dimly lit bar filled with smoke, character, and curiosity.

More telling then the bands ability to execute the covers, however, is their ability to create original songs within the 60s Cambodian rock vein. The original songs, "22 Nights" and "Connect Four", sit comfortably next to the songs by Ros SereySothea without altering the feel of the album in anyway.