El Ten Eleven

{{Short description|American post-rock band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = El Ten Eleven | image = EL TEN ELEVEN-EL REY-DEC 14, 2013-40.jpg | caption = El Ten Eleven at the El Rey Theater, Los Angeles, December 14, 2013 | image_size = | background = group_or_band | origin = Los Angeles, California, United States | genre = Post-rock, experimental, ambient, indie rock, math rock, progressive rock | years_active = 2002–present | label = Joyful Noise Recordings<br/>Fake Record Label (US)<br />Xtal (Japan) | website = {{URL|http://www.elteneleven.com}} | current_members = Kristian Dunn<br />Tim Fogarty | past_members = }}

'''El Ten Eleven''' is an American post-rock duo based out of Los Angeles, California. They are known for combining guitar/bass doubleneck or fretless bass, with heavy looping, or vamping, and the use of an effects pedal, over acoustic or electric drumming. They have released twelve full-length albums, 2 EPs and a remix album, 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 airliner, the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundowns/el-ten-eleven |title=Rig Rundown: El Ten Eleven |work=Premier Guitar |date=February 9, 2022 |access-date=March 2, 2022 |author=Kies, Chris}}</ref>

==Career== ===2002-2007=== Bassist and composer Kristian Dunn and drummer Tim Fogarty formed El Ten Eleven in 2002 while living in the Silver Lake community of Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bar-none.com/artist_detail.php?artist=el-ten-eleven |title=El Ten Eleven |work=Bar/None Records |access-date=January 6, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222155117/http://www.bar-none.com/artist_detail.php?artist=el-ten-eleven |archive-date=December 22, 2007 |df=mdy }}</ref> 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. Comparisons have been drawn to Sigur Rós and The Mercury Program, though reviews have heavily emphasized the duo's use of a limited number of musicians to create complex instrumental works. The ''Dallas Observer'' called them the fourth best instrumental band in the last twenty years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2014/02/best_instrumental_bands.php?page=2 |title=The Seven Best Instrumental Bands of the Last 20 Years |author=Darryl Smyers |date=February 13, 2014 |access-date=March 29, 2014 |archive-date=March 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329215739/http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2014/02/best_instrumental_bands.php?page=2 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''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."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/features/band_of_the_day/2005/09/050929_elteneleven/|title=Spotlight: El Ten Eleven|work=Spin|last=Miller|first=Kerry|date=September 29, 2005|access-date=January 2, 2022}}</ref>

2005 also saw the band embark on their first US tour. This was the beginning of the band playing for years, almost non-stop, around the country. ''SF Weekly'' remarked of their live show, "Watching El Ten Eleven play is something like watching two superheroes do their thing."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sfweekly.com/music/el-ten-eleven-is-made-of-superheroes-baths-scratches-beats-like-a-mosquito/ |title=El Ten Eleven Is Made of Superheroes; Baths Scratches Beats Like a Mosquito |author=Daniel Levin Becker |date=October 13, 2010}}</ref> Regarding their live show, Dunn commented to the Scenestar in 2012, "We refuse to use prerecorded tracks live, so that means the live versions of the songs will be a little different from on the record."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thescenestar.com/2012/11/14/interview-kristian-dunn-of-el-ten-eleven/ |title=Interview: Kristian Dunn of El Ten Eleven |author=Cheryl Cheng}}</ref>

In 2007, the movie ''Helvetica'' was released with original music by Kristian Dunn, and much of the contributed music performed by the duo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0847817/|title=Helvetica (film) Original music by Kristian Dunn|website=IMDb |access-date=January 6, 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0369169/otherworks|title=Other works for Adam Hauck|website=IMDb |access-date=January 30, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFCRMonf7lI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/xFCRMonf7lI |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=YouTube - El Ten Eleven - Hot Cakes|website=YouTube |date=November 19, 2007 |access-date=January 30, 2008}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

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.

=== 2008–2010 === On July 15, 2008, the band released their third album, ''These Promises Are Being Videotaped'', a more dance oriented outing. The record was recorded using only fretless bass and electronic and acoustic drums.

The band released their fourth studio album, ''It's Still Like a Secret'', on November 9, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.elteneleven.com/north/?p=275 |title=Help us make our record! |work=elteneleven.com |access-date=June 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728190051/http://www.elteneleven.com/north/?p=275 |archive-date=July 28, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ymlp.com/zwJXsH|title=Tour Started + CDs Shipped + Album Details|work=El Ten Eleven newsletter|access-date=September 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723111426/http://ymlp.com/zwJXsH|archive-date=July 23, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== 2011–2013 === Their fifth album, ''Transitions'', was released on October 2, 2012.

''Transitions Remixed'' was released on April 2, 2013. It features remixes of songs from ''Transitions'' by electronic artists Com Truise, Slow Magic, D33J and Steed Lord, among others, and reached No. 13 on the CMJ college radio chart.

===Since 2014=== On February 4, 2014 the band released ''For emily'', a three-song EP dedicated to a friend who died the previous year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thebaybridged.com/2014/02/13/el-ten-eleven-releases-new-ep-coming-new-parish|title=El Ten Eleven releases new EP, coming to The New Parish|date=February 13, 2014|website=Thebaybridged.com|access-date=August 10, 2018|archive-date=August 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809040752/https://thebaybridged.com/2014/02/13/el-ten-eleven-releases-new-ep-coming-new-parish/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The word "emily" is purposely written in all-lowercase as that is the way she would write her name.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/press/el-ten-eleven-announce-feb |title=El Ten Eleven Announce Feb/march 2014 Tour Details|website=Contactmusic.com |date=February 5, 2014}}</ref>

On July 18, 2014, the duo announced an Indiegogo campaign to fund the pressing of new vinyl records for their original album ''El Ten Eleven'', ''Transitions'', and a new pressing for ''For emily''. For this fundraiser, fans could order any of vinyls for these three albums, the original test pressing records for these albums, or pay to be on the band's official guest list for life. Also, the ''For emily'' EP included an additional bonus track not available digitally called ''Favrile''. The fundraiser ended on August 3, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-el-ten-eleven-vinyl-pressings|title=New El Ten Eleven Vinyl Pressings|website=Indiegogo.com|access-date=August 10, 2018}}</ref>

Three years after the release of ''Transitions'', the band announced the release of their sixth studio album, ''Fast Forward'', via social media accounts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/elteneleven/photos/a.198976957251.132598.116565552251/10153015751247252 |title=El Ten Eleven releases new album |author=El Ten Eleven |website=Facebook.com|date=June 15, 2015}}/</ref> The album was released on August 21, 2015. Coinciding with the album's release, the band also planned a tour across the United States in support of the album following its release, including locations across the United States such as New York, Atlanta, California, and more.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/elteneleven/photos/a.198976957251.132598.116565552251/10153025203552252/ |title=El Ten Eleven Tour Dates |website=Facebook.com |date=June 19, 2015}}/</ref> In 2017, 2018, and 2022, the band has been supporting Peter Hook and the Light on some of their concert dates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thebaybridged.com/2017/05/02/photos-peter-hook-light-performs-substance-uc-theatre/|title=Photos: Peter Hook and the Light perform 'Substance' at the UC Theatre - The Bay Bridged - San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music|date=May 2, 2017|website=Thebaybridged.com|access-date=August 10, 2018|archive-date=June 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630214153/http://thebaybridged.com/2017/05/02/photos-peter-hook-light-performs-substance-uc-theatre/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Metro Chicago club ad for 2022 shows |url=https://metrochicago.com/event/peter-hook-the-light-joy-division-a-celebration/}}</ref> In 2018, they released ''Banker's Hill''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/elteneleven/videos/10155693315687252/|title=El Ten Eleven|website=Facebook.com|access-date=August 10, 2018}}</ref> The following year they signed with Joyful Noise Recordings, reissuing their debut LP. In 2020, they announced that their eighth full-length album ''Tautology'' would be released in September.<ref>{{Cite web|title=El Ten Eleven {{!}} Tautology {{!}} Joyful Noise Recordings {{!}} Joyful Noise Recordings|url=https://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/products/tautology|access-date=2020-06-15|website=www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com}}</ref>

''Tautology'', a triple album, was released on September 18, 2020.

''New Years Eve'' was released on March 4, 2022, and was followed less than a year later by ''Valley of Fire''.

==Musical style== According to Paul Simpson of AllMusic, El Ten Eleven is an instrumental post-rock band with compositions that have been described as "bittersweet", "upbeat", and "complex". The band's sound is achieved through the use of fretless bass, a "double-neck bass/guitar combo", electronic drum kit, looping stations and effects pedals. The group's melodies are described as "chiming" and "heartfelt", and the songs themselves are described as "energetic, even danceable". Several of the band's songs are named after deceased friends and relatives.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Simpson |first1=Paul |title=El Ten Eleven Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mo |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/el-ten-eleven-mn0000332478#biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=November 20, 2024}}</ref>

==Discography== * ''El Ten Eleven'' (2004) * ''Every Direction Is North'' (2007) * ''These Promises Are Being Videotaped'' (2008) * ''It's Still Like a Secret'' (2010) * ''Transitions'' (2012) * ''Transitions Remixed'' (2013) * ''For emily EP'' (2014) * ''Fast Forward'' (2015) * ''Unusable Love EP'' (''feat. Emile Mosseri'') (2017) * ''Banker's Hill'' (2018) * ''Tautology I'' (May 2020) * ''Tautology II'' (July 2020) * ''Tautology III'' (September 2020) * ''New Year's Eve'' (2022) * ''Valley of Fire'' (2023) * ''Nowhere Faster'' (2026)

==Band members== * Kristian Dunn – Wal fretless bass, 1977 and 1978 Carvin guitar/bass doublenecks, Schecter Robert Smith UltraCure VI six string bass, Shergold six string bass, Aria Pro II SB1000 * Tim Fogarty – electric drums, acoustic drums, drum pads

===Side projects=== Dunn and Fogarty used to be members of the San Diego–based band Softlightes, the first American band signed to the Australian label Modular Records.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bar-none.com/el-ten-eleven.html |title=El Ten Eleven - Bar/None Records |access-date=May 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222121144/http://www.bar-none.com/el-ten-eleven.html |archive-date=February 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Dunn recorded the debut LP, ''See You at the Solipsist Convention'', for a new project under the band name Yesness with Damon Che of Don Caballero on Joyful Noise Recordings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yesness {{!}} See You at the Solipsist Convention {{!}} Joyful Noise Recordings {{!}} Joyful Noise Recordings |url=https://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/products/see-you-at-the-solipsist-convention?srsltid=AfmBOorccIwz9NcptryM3xep8pKAtMbHDPARFwG8PjyjSKmczIpU29tf |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-25 |title=Yesness – "Not So Sorry Now Are You?" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2281886/yesness-not-so-sorry-now-are-you/music/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.elteneleven.com/}} * [http://www.spin.com/features/band_of_the_day/2005/09/050929_elteneleven/ ''Spin'' Review]

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Category:American post-rock groups Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles Category:Musical groups established in 2003 Category:Joyful Noise Recordings artists Category:Alcopop! Records artists