This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
WHO ARE THEY? A duo whose name is a lot more apt than you might initially suspect. Jimmy Tamborello lives in L.A., while Ben Gibbard (also of Death Cab For Cutie) is from Bellingham, Wash. They collaborate on their electronica-laden indie-pop by mailing recordings back and forth.
WHAT’S THIS? The debut fruit of their long-distance labours. Tamborello creates the gently grooving electronic backdrops. Gibbard, with the odd bit of help, provides the guitars, basslines and drumbeats, melodies, lyrics and bittersweet vocals. Somehow, the 10 pretty slices of charming electro-pop that result sound as lovingly and thoughtfully constructed as if they were in each other’s pockets the whole time. And as if they were living in London in the early ’80s.
HOW DOES IT SOUND? Like the Human League, New Order, Erasure and Pet Shop Boys teamed up for a reunion tour.
