Dntel

b. Jimmy Tamborello, Silverlake, California, USA. Assuming the enigmatic Dntel moniker because it sounded like an archetypal electronica track title, the self-confessed nervous recluse creates the most beguiling of musics at the midpoint between soporific indie pop and state-of-the-art glitch-ridden electronica. In the early 90s, Tamborello was playing hardcore but, via a love of My Bloody Valentine and Tortoise, ended up investigating the wayward electronic music of Plaid, Aphex Twin, and Autechre. Tamborello's initial experiments in electronic music, in collaboration with David Figurine, were released under the provocative Antihouse moniker and recorded concurrently with the experimental hardcore of Strictly Ballroom. His Dntel alter ego was booted in 1994 and subsequently released a duo of instrumental recordings, Early Works For Me If It Works For You (a collection of tracks created between 1995 and 1997) and Something Always Goes Wrong (an EP recorded in 1994 but unreleased until six years later) via southern California CD-R label Phthalo. However, Tamborello's studio experiments really came to fruition with 2001's Life Is Full Of Possibilities. From his appositely named Dying Songs Studio, the Los Angeles-based musician coalesced electronic clicks and pulses, drum 'n' bass rim-shots, the murk of static, the tinkle of xylophone and even the sampled sound of fireworks into sublime glitch-pop suites that shared partial aesthetics with Múm and Piano Magic. Tamborello recruited friends and indie illuminati such as Rachel Haden (That Dog), Chris Gunst (Beachwood Sparks), Meredith Figurine (Figurine) and Benjamin Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie) to provide narratives to his electronic music. Tamborello's juxtaposition of fat bass and elegiac guitar, wayward distortion and pretty vocals could sound perverse but, as it is, Dntel sounds tender, understated and perfectly poised. Tamborello is also, notably, one third of techno pop outfit Figurine, and records with Gibbard as Postal Service.