Dntel - Early Works for Me If It Works for You II

Jimmy Tamborello (aka Dntel) made quite a name for himself with his breakthrough album, 2001's Life Is Full of Possibilities. The album featured moody, downbeat, and sometimes ambient sounds flowing so naturally it couldn't evade critical acclaim. Critics raved about the album, giving Tamborello newfound recognition. Fans who wanted to get their hands on the first Dntel album, Early Works for Me If It Works for You, were usually unsuccessful in procuring it, as very few copies were made and distributed. This has changed now with it's reissue, Early Works for Me If It Works for You II. In addition to his debut, the reissue includes Dntel's first EP, Something Always Goes Wrong, and a collection of unreleased tracks made prior to Life Is Full of Possibilities, called Early Works for Me If It Works for You II. For fans of Dntel's latest LP, Dumb Luck, you may not enjoy this as much. Far removed from the quiet chill of Dumb Luck, or even Life Is Full of Possibilities, Early Works features fast beats, edgier synths, and absolutely no vocals. According to Tamborello, these tracks were composed using just one sampler/synthesizer, and "some basic seqencing software," and he was not able to add vocals. He claims the tracks were inspired by Aphex Twin (well, whose weren't?), U-Ziq, and Warp Records among others. The fact that both Aphex Twin and U-Ziq were both important figures in the Drum n' bass movement is not a coincidence, as many songs have a drum n' bass tinged sound, especially "Loneliness Is Having No One to Miss" and "Sky Pointing." Also, the eerie feel of "Termites In The Bathtub," "Tybalt 60," or "Curtains" fall in line with the Aphex Twin comparisons. But this album is also breathtakingly beautiful, mostly due to the dazzling "Fort Instructions" and the uplifting "Sky Pointing." The aptly named "Danny Loves Experimental Electronics" is an odd moment, yet it is still strangely satisfying. Surprisingly, it just so happens that Dntel's long lost debut maybe his best work...if not for his first EP, Something Always Goes Wrong, which IS his greatest work. Something Always Goes Wrong is much more sparse than Early Works, featuring long tracks with synths drifting in and out and beats slowing and quickening. Most track titles on the EP (if you call it an EP, it's longer than Early Works) begin with "In Which Our Hero", which indicates there is a story being told, despite the absence of lyrics. Other than the mute storyline, the EP contains a track called "In Which Our Hero Dodges Bullets and Swords", which might be the greatest song Dntel has ever created, with the exception of "(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan". Exciting, dramatic, and intense, Something Always Goes Wrong is an unsung gem. The last component of the reissue, Early Works for Me If It Works for You II, is also an intriguing listen, and will probably please fans of Dntel's later work more than the rest of the reissue did. As basically a compilation of non-included (sometimes non-finished) songs, it doesn't cohesively fit together as an album. But II still has memorable tracks, including the pretty "Don't Try" and the bright "Smile Break". A must have for a Dntel fan, this reissue is a tremendous gift from Mr. Tamborello.

4 1/2 STARS