El Ten Eleven
High Noon Saloon 701A E. Washington Ave., Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Mark Owens
El Ten Eleven
$12 ($10 adv.; ages 18+).
press release: Banker’s Hill, the critically-acclaimed new album from the prolific post-rock duo El Ten Eleven, is now out through Topshelf Records.
Banker’s Hill already spawned several stand-out singles, including "We Don't Have A Sail But We Have A Rudder” and “Phenomenal Problems," along with its corresponding live video, which is an up close and personal look at the formative duo’s meticulously-honed skills at work… pretty impressive how much sonic force two people can conjure!
"Phenomenal Problems" by El Ten Eleven
Armed with merely a double-neck bass/guitar, drums and a dizzying array of pedals, El Ten Eleven create complex, progressive music from scratch, onstage, with no help from laptops or additional musicians. Made up of Kristian Dunn (bass, guitar) and Tim Fogarty (drums), they utilize multiple looping pedals to create songs that sound as though they are being played by at least six people. Most first-timers to an El Ten Eleven show are stunned that the band is a duo... it’s a refreshing sight in this age of letting the computers do all the work.
On Banker’s Hill, the inventive duo brought producer Sonny Diperri (Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors, Protomartyr) into the fold, which is the first time the duo has ever worked with an outside producer… I’ve been a fan of this band for over 15 years, and can attest that this is some of their best work to date! Banker's Hill is a nine-song exploration into the challenge of living in the moment. Their music has been described as “meditation in motion,” which seems apt. The album explores the paradox of beauty in anxiety, the importance and effect of family and the fleeting possibility of satisfaction.
"El Ten Eleven are one of those groups that you just have to see to really believe." - KEXP
“Watching El Ten Eleven play is something like watching two superheroes do their thing.” - SF Weekly
“...a glistening post-rock gem. The duo expertly weave their instruments around one another,
egging themselves on to kick back into another stunning repetition." - The Line of Best Fit