You might expect producer Jimmy Tamborello, also half of the Postal Service, to push the boundaries of his woozy laptop-pop tomfoolery with the first record under his Dntel alias in six years. But the vibe here is mellow, unremarkable, and a touch contrived — Dntel’s warped synths and shivering static try to evoke alien landscapes, but the Twilight Zone effect is one-note and soon turns dull. Virtually all the tracks feature guest vocalist, but with the exception of Lali Puna (on the frisky, bubbling “I’d Like to Know”) and Jenny Lewis (who commands the otherwise sleepy “Roll On”), they don’t help much.
Now Hear This: Dntel – “Dumb Luck” DOWNLOAD MP3
