Pitchfork

[Updated Wednesday, November 5th, 2003 13:30:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Maybe you have all been wondering what is going on with Dntel, the atmospherically electronic alter-ego of one Jimmy Tamborello. Well, in case you just evolved from the ocean's muck, Tamborello has been fairly busy with a little project called The Postal Service, a partnership with a little rockstar called Ben Gibbard. Now, we all love the electro-pop of Give Up, but dammit, when is Tamborello gonna get back to doing what he does best? Pitchfork recently had the opportunity of finding out a little bit about the future of Dntel as well as Tamborello's other projects.

Tamborello is currently hard at work on his follow up to 2001's Life is Full of Possibilities, which he plans to release through the Plug Research label by year's end. He originally planned to do the album, tentatively titled Just Like Heaven, by himself so "it didn't seem like I was U.N.K.L.E. or something, like having a guest was the whole thing behind Dntel." Nevertheless, temptation has gotten the better of him, and while he didn't want to jinx any collaborations by speaking on unconfirmed guests, expect vocal contributions from Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst ("Breakfast In Bed"), Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis ("A Warm Bed Is Something"), and Fog's Andrew Broder. Tamborello himself will also be contributing vocals to a track or two.

In Postal Service goings-on, Jimmy T. has completed a few remixes under various aliases for songs by Azure Ray, The Flaming Lips ("Do You Realize??"), and Madonna ("Nothing Fails"). Yes, the Britney-kissing, Gap-jean hawking Madonna, not some ironically named indie-rockers. He doesn't know if the Azure Ray or Madonna remixes will be used yet, but let's all keep our fingers crossed. As previously reported, Tamborello's remix of "Do You Realize??" is set to appear on the Flaming Lips' Ego-Tripping At The Gates Of Hell EP later this month.

Gibbard wasn't involved in these remixes, Tamborello notes: "Ben's not around to work on little things like this. It's more just in the spirit of [The Postal Service]. But actually, the U.S. Postal Service sent us a cease-and-desist letter. We're talking to them right now, it's not figured out yet. So all these remixes I've had to do under different names." Ridiculous! I'm sure if it were up to Ashcroft bands like the Dead Kennedys, Bush, Anthrax, the Presidents Of The United States Of America, and classic '80s indie outlet I.R.S. would have to pack it up, too. It just goes to illustrate the misplaced priorities of this administration. I mean, if the federal government sends any band a cease-and-desist letter this year, it should be Staind!

In any case, Gibbard and Tamborello plan to do another album in 2004 (band name TBD, though probably not "Death Cab For Congress") as well as doing some more touring in January. We'll have more for you about this when we know it.