El Ten Eleven
is a Los Angeles, CA post-rock duo known for combining guitar/bass doubleneck or fretless bass, with heavy looping, or vamping, and the utility of an effects pedal, over acoustic or electric drumming. They have released three full length albums, earning generally positive reviews.
The band has earned some attention, due to one of its songs being played during the trailer for Gary Hustwit's documentary Objectified.
The name El Ten Eleven is derived from the name of an airplane, the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar.
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EL TEN ELEVEN TICKETS
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History
El Ten Eleven formed in 2003 after bassist and composer Kristian Dunn and drummer Tim Fogarty had played experimental music together in an organic/electronic four-piece group.
[1] They released their eponymous debut album,
El Ten Eleven
in 2004 on
Fake Record Label, and through
Bar/None Records on
September 20,
2005. Many reviews of the album garnished the band with positive acclaim, describing the sound as atmospheric, putting a much more ethereal spin on the southwestern
post-rock/
Americana movement than bands like
Calexico or
The Court & Spark, though less electronic and more organic-sounding than
Tortoise or most
shoegazer bands.
[2] Comparisons have also been drawn to
Sigur Rós and
The Mercury Program, though reviews have heavily emphasized the duo's utilization of a limited number musicians to create instrumental works.
Spin
, which awarded them the title 'Band of the Day',
September 29,
2005, describes their work as "experimental instrumental music that's both highly skilled and deeply felt."
[3] They continue to play live shows in their native
Los Angeles,
California home and across the continental
United States, and were a showcase artist at
South By Southwest on
March 17,
2006.
[4]
In 2007, the movie
Helvetica was released with original music by Kristian Dunn, and much of the contributed music performed by the duo.
[5] Their sophomore album was also released that year, on CD format July 9, and then available later for
download that August. A music video was also shot that year, for the song "Hot Cakes", directed by video producer and writer
Adam Hauck.
[6] [7]
In late 2007, Xtal Records released the band's second full-length album,
Every Direction Is North
in Japan, a version which included the bonus track "Jumping Frenchmen Of Maine." In a January 28, 2008 blog post on their website, and
MySpace page, the band released "Jumping Frenchmen of Maine" as an online download, stating that the song was from their forthcoming album. A
PayPal link was included for listeners, giving them the option to pay any amount they wished for the song, much like
what Radiohead had done with
In Rainbows
in 2007.
On July 15, 2008 the band released their third album,
These Promises Are Being Videotaped
.
Discography
- El Ten Eleven
(2004)
- Every Direction Is North
(2007)
- These Promises Are Being Videotaped
(2008)
Band members
- Kristian Dunn - fretless bass, 1977 Carvin guitar/bass doubleneck
- Tim Fogarty - electric drums, acoustic drums, synthesizer
Side Projects
Dunn and Fogarty are also members of the
San Diego-based band SoftLightes, the first American band signed to the Australian label
Modular Records.
[8]
Tracks
References
- El Ten Eleven
- Calender Live Review, ''calenderlive.com'', retrieved 17 May 2009.
- Artist of the Day: El Ten Eleven
- SXSW 2006 Showcasing Artists: El Ten Eleven
- Helvetica (film) Original music by Kristian Dunn
- Other works for Adam Hauck
- YouTube - El Ten Eleven - Hot Cakes
- Bar None El Ten Eleven Page, ''bar-none.com'', brief biography of ETE, retrieved 17 May 2009.