Dengue Fever - Venus on the Earth

Rating: * * * *

The voice of Chhom Nimol takes a little getting used to. Then again, this is psychedelic rock meets Cambodian pop that we're talking about here and it's coming straight out of Los Angeles via the hot and sweaty climes and clubs of Phnom Penh.

But it doesn't take long for Nimol's slightly shrill and gently wonky lilt to cast its spell and her lyrics - sung mostly in Khmer - to seduce you.

Dengue Fever formed in 2001 when band founders and brothers Ethan and Zac Holtzman wanted to form a band inspired by a trip Ethan took to Cambodia.

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But first they needed an authentic singer and discovered Nimol singing in a night club in the Little Phnom Penh area of Long Beach.

Third album Venus On Earth (the first to introduce English as well as Khmer lyrics) is hypnotic and enchanting, with the key components being Holtzman's guitars and keyboards, accompanied by deep, creepy-crawly bass and delicate drums propelling the songs, and sprays of horns.

And while the term psychedelic Cambodian pop gives an idea of the band's direction, Dengue Fever strays into all sorts of areas. Integration is a loping gypsy jaunt; Oceans of Venus has a mischevious surf band-meets-Get Smart energy; and, despite the name, Tooth and Nail is a sweet boy-girl ballad.

There's also moments of beautiful naivety to the album. Long-distance love song Tiger Phone Card - another boy-girl duet with the hopelessly romantic lines "It's 4am I check my email ... and I write you back and count the days until we'll be together"- is catchy and cute, and the muted horns and flighty guitar of Sober Driver suits the coy, I'm-being-used sentiment of the song.

These guys will be ones to check out at Womad in March - just hope for a long hot summer's night.

Scott Kara