Dengue Fever / Chicha Libre – split 7″ – Barbes Records [Lucky 7-inch #40 / Daily MP3 #40]

Chicha Libre – “Primavera en la Selva” MP3
Dengue Fever – “Sni Bong” MP3 

Wire Magazine reportedly called the Dengue Fever / Chicha Libre split 7-inch one of the best records of 2009; I can’t argue.

What started as a novelty purchase has turned Gumshoe all gooey inside. I’m swaying and swooning, wondering where this blessed music has been all my life; it’s easy to get bitter and ask, “Why, oh why can’t I anticipate these cravings years beforehand?” but I’m just going to enjoy this.

Dengue Fever’s “Genjer Genjer” represents their side of this glossy coin, and it’s fairly tough to beat.

Undoubtedly inspired by Cambodian music — I’m not exactly grasping at straws here; DF just put out a compilation of cuts straight outta Cambodia — “Genjer” is a lurid song that makes you forget how pop-driven it really is via omnipresent organ-grinding, smooth sax riffs, lounge-club, snare-rim drumming and vocals fluttery to the point of near-incandescence. 

But, again, this is the pop of the future — mark my words with a florescent-pink super-Sharpie. Dengue Fever have been pushing their designs on the indie public for a long time now, and, hopefully, their mission will be accomplished sooner than later.

I should add that no band that I’m aware of has done more in this country to advance the World-music agenda to the underground beardos (not Animal Collective, certainly not Vampire Weekend, though I’m not a hater).

Chicha Libre represent a more idiosyncratic side of the rest of the World with “Primavera en la Selva,” presenting a vibrant bongo-fronted approach heavily reliant on electric organ and Spanish vocals.

From the sound of it “Primavera” will be the grower in this equation, getting better with every spin until I finally grow a Cheech mustache and chant “Viva Libre” in the streets until I am arrested or shot.

 There are worse fates. The Latin latitudes and lime-squeezed longitudes found here are tasty enough to fuel a revolution, if not on the battlefield than in my record collection.

How am I gonna go back to my garage-rock when I know deep in my black heart that there are probably hundreds of great bands where Chicha Libre come from (Which is Brooklyn; obviously I meant where Chicha Libra figuratively come from, silly)?

I’ll deal with it. In the meantime don’t gloat as I become that old guy listening to whatever World group is trendy that week. Ugh.