Dntel

by Erik Hage
Dntel (aka Jimmy Tamborello) produces music that merges the worlds of indie rock and electronica. Tamborello was formerly a guitarist in the emocore group Strictly Ballroom and also a member of techno-poppers Figurine. In addition, he has done time in the SoCal groups Further and the Tyde. Tamborello originally started working as Dntel in 1994. Tracks he produced between 1995-1997 were released on the Phthalo label in 1999 as Early Works for Me If It Works for You. This was followed by the 2000 release of an EP that had been recorded back in 1994 called Something Always Goes Wrong. The melancholy, often haunting, and electronica-heavy effort Life Is Full of Possibilities arrived in 2002 on Plug Research Records. It featured contributions from Chris Gunst (Beachwood Sparks, ex-Strictly Ballroom), Rachel Haden (that dog.), and Benjamin Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), among others. Tamborello moved to Sub Pop — also home of his other very successful project, the Postal Service — for Dntels 2007 album Dumb Luck, which featured Gibbard, Jenny Lewis, Conor Oberst, and many other indie stars.