Customer Reviews

Venus on Earth

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My first encounter with Dengue Fever (the band) was on National Public Radio's Fresh Air, where Terri Gross interviewed lead singer Ethan Holtzman. She also played a few cuts, including the second on this CD, "Clipped Wings." I heard the same cut a few weeks later, on another NPR show, including a different interview with Holtzman.

Yesterday, on a lark, I asked for the disc in a CD haunt. The clerk had never heard of "Venus on Earth" OR the band. Who? He said. Fortunately, I found a copy, albeit the store's very last of any Dengue Fever album.

But music stores nationwide should stock and promote this amazing mix of 1960s and '70s rock style, featuring the ethereal, snaking, dipping soprano Khmer vocalizations of Chhom Nimol---pronto.

In 1997, Ethan Holtzman went to the Angkor Wat ruins outside Phnom Penh. On that fateful day trip, his travel companion contracted Dengue Fever and the pair "enjoyed" a sweaty bus ride back to Phnom Penh while their driver blasted classic Cambodian '60s and '70s rock songs.

During his genocide of 2 million Cambodian intellectuals, artists, students and city dwellers, Pol Pot had murdered all the talented composers and performers whose songs and performances they heard. The soul-stopping mixes---of static-guitar, fuzzy Farfisa organ, metal percussion, and Khmer women singing like perfectly high-pitched violins---blew Holtzman away. He bought all the Cambodian rock he could find and flew back to Los Angeles.

When Ethan's brother Zach also returned to L.A.---from a decade playing San Francisco clubs---the brothers started combing Long Beach's neighborhood known as Little Phnom Penh for a Cambodian singer to join their nascent band, Dengue Fever. In summer 2001, they found Chhom Nimol, at the Dragon House club.

Reluctant to trust them, she finally agreed to join the group, to which Zack also added some buddies---fans of Ethiopian jazz---Dave Ralicke (formerly of Brazzaville) on saxophone, drummer Paul Smith, and bassist Senon Williams (formerly from Radar Brothers), who'd also been to Cambodia.

This CD is Dengue Fever's third album; I love it so much I now plan to buy the first two also.

--Alyssa A. Lappen

It's retro and modern... it's rhythmic but not pop... The composition is weird and fresh but not at all alien like rest of the experimental music is... I wouldn't even call it experimental, so comfortable it feels... The sound is wide open and well balanced... What else can I say... Wow!!!

I was fortunate that my local record store put a copy of this album in their listening station. After hearing only half of the first track, I was convinced that I needed to own it. The songs throughout the album are extremely catchy and melodic. An East Asian flair integrates wonderfully with rock, funk and folk inspired music. The singer (from Cambodia, I believe) has a wonderful voice and sings some of the songs in her native language (the others are in English). If you're interested in world music or just want to listen to something unique, I highly encourage you to give Dengue Fever a try!

I've been following Dengue from the beginning and this is their finest work yet. Their original influences (Cambodian Rock & Ethiopian Jazz) are still present but the band sounds more evolved than ever. The textures are interesting and varied. This album pushes them into the realm of great songwriting. A song like "Monsoon of Perfume" for example is timeless. Instant Classic.

...check it out for yourself.

I keep reading about this band in Giant Robot, so I finally caved in and got this record along with "Escape from Dragon House." This is some awesome music by a bunch of talented players and songwriters. And those vocals--holy crap.

I listen to Khmer oldies from the 60's and 70's every day and I know most of the lyrics. But this band is so great and so unique you can't find anywhere else on this planet. I didn't even know there was such a Band until I come across NPR and youtube video of the band's public performance. Let me tell you that I was blown away to hear Khmer oldies in Dengue Fever albums. I love it!!! my only regret is that I wasn't able to see them when they were in Montreal, Canada. I'm gonna buy every single one of their albums, believe me or not. I highly recommend it.

This is my first experience with Dengue Fever, and in an ocean of sameness, this stands out as remarkably unique. The psychedelic, surf, and garage melodies filtered through traditional Cambodian music fit perfectly with the haunting singing of Chhom Nimol. And while I love the fact that most of the lyrics are sung in Khmer, I also appreciate the interplay with Zac Holtzman on the English language tunes "Tiger Phone Card" and "Sober Driver", and especially their subtle harmony at the end of "Tooth and Nail". I highly recommend this to anyone interested in something different but still highly listenable.

They have done it again...... I've listened to this disc more than 100 times and I'm still blown away. I have to admit that I heard every track sample clip on amazon prior to release and hearing this in it's entirety was amazing. I immediately went to track 6 (Monsoon of Perfume)and then played it again and again and again, you get the idea. GOOSE BUMPS! That is possibly the most beautiful song ever written and performed. I picture a space glam video(Satelite of Love) with Chhom. Then moved on to (Clipped Wings)my second favorite; very moody; cleverly orchestrated . I wish I could walk into a club sometime and hear (Integratron) playing very loudly. I have a special walk just for that song. The duet on (Tiger Phone Card) couldn't have been done better by George and Tammy. (Sober Driver) is a great story and a familiar one to probably alot of guys that date girls. (Woman in the Shoes) is very ABBA goes to Cambodia. (Oceans of Venus) should be the opening music for some Cool New International Space Spy drama - very fun.
(Seeing Hands) is spooky and sounds to be about serious regret(total- guess).
So go buy this CD and be in on something very rare in 2008.

Didn't know what to expect after purchasing it, but no regrets. A distinct sound that's not heard on the airwaves, but probably should be just for the variety it would provide.

Just got to see Dengue Fever perform live this weekend in Athens Ohio, and I like them more then I ever have now.
I've had this album for about 6 months now and my 5 favorite tracks are these....
1. Woman In The Shoes 2. Integratron 3. Seeing Hands 4. Tiger Phone Card 5. Tooth and Nail
The entire cd is strong (there are only two songs that don't get much play time)
On my itunes top 25, this album is represented more then any other album. And with a cd collection of over 400, that says a lot.