Music that drives away evil spirits: The Californians and their psych-folk pop.
There is at least one thing in common between Californian and Cambodian music: the rock of the 1970s from both regions is legendary, but in Cambodia the scene only lasted until the middle of the decade, when the Khmer Rouge established their reign of terror. Connecting California and Cambodia musically is what the band Dengue Fever from Los Angeles has been aiming for for many years. Chhom Nimol, the group’s singer, herself comes from the Southeast Asian country.
On TING MONG, the first album in eight years, this fusion works brilliantly, West Coast lightness (“Great On Paper”) alternates with funky folklore (“Silver Fish”) and desperado melancholy (“Late Checkout At The Cedarwood Inn”). TING MONG is a richly orchestrated album, flutes and other wind instruments, glockenspiels and lots of percussion instruments are included, and Chhom Nimol’s penetrating voice towers over everything. In Cambodian tradition, the album title refers to a scarecrow-like figure that is said to drive away evil spirits. This album has the potential to do that.