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Dengue Fever, ‘Cannibal Courtship’ (Fantasy)

The cross-cultural misunderstanding that is Dengue Fever continues unabated on the SoCal group’s sixth album, their first consisting solely of original material. Dengue’s charmingly awkward blend of indie rock and Cambodian pop, as sung by the dazzling Chhom Nimol, is mirrored in bittersweet songs laden with interracial romantic ennui and exploitation (“Thank You Goodbye,” “Only a Friend,” the title track). And while the sextet refine their surf-rockin’ exotica, Nimol’s wonderful Khmer-language covers are missed.