As the Vietnam War was exploding across the border and the Khmer
Rouge gathered strength in the bush, Cambodia's cities reveled in a
raucous nightclub scene, fueled by a local interpretation of
American rock, soul and R&B. These were big bands wearing
matching jackets and satin lapels on their wildly orchestrated
journeys into the furthest vanguard of Western popular music,
creating a sound that rivaled their American counterparts' in
intensity. But the Cambodian rock scene was cut short by the Khmer
Rouge, who killed most of the musicians after its coup in 1975.
This music would have been lost to history, were it not for two
rival compilation series, one titled Cambodian Rocks
(Parallel World), the other Cambodian Rocks, Volume 1 and
2 (Khmer Rocks). The Parallel World album's twenty-two tracks
feature all manner of virtuosity, from smoking organ interludes and
buzzy static-guitar solos to klezmerish clarinet work and even the
occasional accordion. The sounds of surf, girl-group garage and
psychedelia swirl together, sometimes on the same song. Volume
1, released late last year, offers a different set of equally
rocking tunes. Next year, a feature-length documentary about the
Cambodian rock scene will be hitting the festival circuit. "The
Sixties wasn't just in the United States and the U.K.," says John
Pirozzi, the film's director. "There was this incredible musical
legacy destroyed so suddenly, and the story deserves to be told."
Hot Scene: Cambodian Rocks
A musical legacy that was destroyed so suddenly
Memorabilia from the Sixties
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- Portions of Album Content Provided by All Music Guide © 2008 All Media Guide, LLC.