Cambodian Psych-Out

I found a copy of Cambodian Psych-Out in a local shop last week. I knew the lp had been out for a while but never got my act together to order one through the mail. Now that an actual copy was in my hands...well...no more excuses. Not that I was looking for any, as I have loved Cambodian rock music since I bought a copy of the Parallel World release Cambodian Rocks back in the mid-90s. Cambodian Psych-Out [Defective/El Supremo Records] features the King (Sinn Sisamouth) & Queen (Ros Sereysothea) of Phnom Penh pop before the nightmare of the Khmer Rouge. It breaks my heart to read of their fates.

Late 60's/early 70's Khmer pop is, without a doubt, absolutely phenomenal music you should hear. Kick ass garage rock with farfisa organs and fuzz guitars. Sereysothea's cover of Shocking Blue's "Venus" is worth the price of the LP, the proceeds of which go to land mine removal in Cambodia.

What else? I snagged a rare grooves collection compiled by Gareth 'Cherrystones' Goddard. Cherrystones Hidden Charms [Family Recordings 9817656] is a nicely eclectic collection of psych, 60's beat, and funk which includes Shocking Blue's sitar groover "Hot Sand" (SB is everywhere it seems), Ennio Morricone's "Svolta Definitiva", Cher's cover of Dr John's "I Walk on Gilded Splinters", and Montrealers Mashmakhan's "Afraid of Losing You". Not a dud to be found on the disc.