El Ten Eleven
Encyclopedia
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 four full length albums, earning generally positive reviews.
The band has earned some attention due to many of their songs being featured in the soundtracks of Gary Hustwit
's design documentaries Helvetica
, Objectified
, and Urbanized.
The name El Ten Eleven is derived from the name of an airplane, the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar.
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. 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." 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.
In 2007, the movie Helvetica
was released with original music by Kristian Dunn, and much of the contributed music performed by the duo. Their second 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
.
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
.
The band released their fourth studio album, It's Still Like a Secret
, on November 9, 2010.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, CA
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
duo known for combining guitar/bass doubleneck
Double neck guitar
A multi-neck guitar is a guitar that has multiple fingerboard necks. They exist in both electric and acoustic versions. Although multi-neck guitars are quite common today, they are not by any means a modern invention...
or fretless bass, with heavy looping
Music loop
In electroacoustic music, a loop is a repeating section of sound material. Short sections of material can be repeated to create ostinato patterns...
, or vamping, and the utility of an effects pedal, over acoustic
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
or electric drumming
Electronic drum
An electronic drum is an electronic synthesizer which mimics an acoustic drum kit.The electronic drum usually consists of a set of pads mounted on a stand in a disposition similar to an acoustic drum kit. The pads are discs with a rubber or cloth-like coating. Each pad has a sensor which generates...
. They have released four full length albums, earning generally positive reviews.
The band has earned some attention due to many of their songs being featured in the soundtracks of Gary Hustwit
Gary Hustwit
Gary Hustwit is an independent filmmaker based in New York and London. He has produced and directed a number of documentaries including the 2007 film Helvetica.-Work:...
's design documentaries Helvetica
Helvetica (film)
Helvetica is an independent feature-length documentary film about typography and graphic design, centered on the typeface of the same name. Directed by Gary Hustwit, it was released in 2007 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the typeface's introduction in 1957 and is considered the first of...
, Objectified
Objectified
Objectified is a feature-length documentary film examining the role of everyday non-living objects, and the people who design them, in our daily lives. The film is directed by Gary Hustwit...
, and Urbanized.
The name El Ten Eleven is derived from the name of an airplane, the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar.
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. They released their eponymous debut album, El Ten ElevenEl Ten Eleven (album)
El Ten Eleven is the self-titled debut album from post-rock band El Ten Eleven.Spin magazine called the album "a sort of Silverlake-style Sigur Rós.....
in 2004 on Fake Record Label, and through Bar/None Records
Bar/None Records
Bar/None Records is an independent record label based in Hoboken, New Jersey.-Early history:Tom Prendergast started Bar/None in early 1986. Having previously worked in pirate radio and booked and promoted bands in his native Ireland, Prendergast moved to Hoboken in 1982 and started Pier Platters...
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
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
/Americana
Americana (music)
Americana is an amalgam of roots musics formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the American musical ethos; specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influential styles...
movement than bands like Calexico or The Court & Spark
The Court & Spark
The Court & Spark was a San Francisco-based indie rock band formed in the spring of 1998 around the nucleus of Scott Hirsch, Alex Stimmel, James Kim, and lead vocalist M.C. Taylor...
, though less electronic and more organic-sounding than Tortoise
Tortoise (band)
Tortoise is an American post-rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1990.-Music:Tortoise's almost entirely instrumental music defies easy categorization, and the group gained significant attention from their early career. The members have roots in Chicago's fertile music scene, playing in...
or most shoegazer
Shoegazing
Shoegazing is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It lasted there until the mid 1990s, with a critical zenith reached in 1990 and 1991...
bands. Comparisons have also been drawn to Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...
and The Mercury Program
The Mercury Program
The Mercury Program is an American musical group composed of Dave Lebleu on drums, Sander Travisano on bass guitar, Tom Reno on guitar, and Whit Travisano on vibraphone and piano. They are based in Gainesville, FL. The first three members formed a trio in August 1997 and Whit Travisano joined in...
, though reviews have heavily emphasized the duo's utilization of a limited number musicians to create instrumental works. Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
, 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." They continue to play live shows in their native Los Angeles, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
home and across the continental United States, and were a showcase artist at South By Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
on March 17, 2006.
In 2007, the movie Helvetica
Helvetica (film)
Helvetica is an independent feature-length documentary film about typography and graphic design, centered on the typeface of the same name. Directed by Gary Hustwit, it was released in 2007 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the typeface's introduction in 1957 and is considered the first of...
was released with original music by Kristian Dunn, and much of the contributed music performed by the duo. Their second album was also released that year, on CD format July 9, and then available later for download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
that August. A music video was also shot that year, for the song "Hot Cakes", directed by video producer and writer Adam Hauck
Adam Hauck
Adam Hauck is a writer, producer, and director, living and working in Los Angeles, California.-Biography:Adam Hauck studied creative writing at San Diego State University, and briefly pursued a career in journalism before moving to Los Angeles to work in television and film production...
.
In late 2007, Xtal Records released the band's second full-length album, Every Direction Is North
Every Direction Is North
Every Direction Is North is the second full length studio album from Los Angeles-based post-rock duo El Ten Eleven.Since its release, it has received multiple favorable reviews.-Track listing:#"3 Plus 4" – 4:12#"Every Direction Is North" – 5:12...
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
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page, the band released "Jumping Frenchmen of Maine" as an online download, stating that the song was from their forthcoming album. A PayPal
PayPal
PayPal is an American-based global e-commerce business allowing payments and money transfers to be made through the Internet. Online money transfers serve as electronic alternatives to paying with traditional paper methods, such as checks and money orders....
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 Rainbows
In Rainbows is the seventh studio album by the English rock band Radiohead. It was first released on 10 October 2007 as a digital download self-released, that customers could order for whatever price they saw fit, followed by a standard CD release in most countries during the last week of 2007. The...
in 2007.
On July 15, 2008 the band released their third album, These Promises Are Being Videotaped
These Promises Are Being Videotaped
These Promises Are Being Videotaped is the third album by Los Angeles post-rock duo El Ten Eleven. It was released on July 15, 2008.-Track listing:#"Jumping Frenchmen of Maine"#"I Like Van Halen Because My Sister Says They Are Cool"#"Fat Gym Riot"...
.
The band released their fourth studio album, It's Still Like a Secret
It's Still Like A Secret
It's Still Like a Secret is the fourth studio album by Los Angeles based post-rock duo El Ten Eleven. While the album was sold at shows during their fall 2010 tour, it was officially released on 9 November.-Track listing:# Ya No...
, on November 9, 2010.
Discography
- El Ten ElevenEl Ten Eleven (album)El Ten Eleven is the self-titled debut album from post-rock band El Ten Eleven.Spin magazine called the album "a sort of Silverlake-style Sigur Rós.....
(2004) - Every Direction Is NorthEvery Direction Is NorthEvery Direction Is North is the second full length studio album from Los Angeles-based post-rock duo El Ten Eleven.Since its release, it has received multiple favorable reviews.-Track listing:#"3 Plus 4" – 4:12#"Every Direction Is North" – 5:12...
(2007) - These Promises Are Being VideotapedThese Promises Are Being VideotapedThese Promises Are Being Videotaped is the third album by Los Angeles post-rock duo El Ten Eleven. It was released on July 15, 2008.-Track listing:#"Jumping Frenchmen of Maine"#"I Like Van Halen Because My Sister Says They Are Cool"#"Fat Gym Riot"...
(2008) - It's Still Like a SecretIt's Still Like A SecretIt's Still Like a Secret is the fourth studio album by Los Angeles based post-rock duo El Ten Eleven. While the album was sold at shows during their fall 2010 tour, it was officially released on 9 November.-Track listing:# Ya No...
(2010)
Band members
- Kristian Dunn - Wal 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.Tracks
- Hotcakes (music video)