In the nine years since El Ten Eleven's formation, multi-instrumentalists Kristian Dunn and Tim Fogarty continue to deliver highly energetic and creative albums. Although the duo is frequently branded as "post-rock" or "experimental," they deviate from their contemporaries in an important way.
They do not use MIDI instruments or software to get their sound. Instead Dunn emphasizes live instrumentation. A master of the double neck guitar and fretless bass, Dunn not only creates intricate melodies but also manages to come up with entirely unique sounds by using reverb, looping and effects pedals.
Meanwhile, Fogarty switches from acoustic to electronic drums, sometimes in the same song. This has the effect of having a distinctly original sound, while maintaining what Christian calls, "the basic language of rock." Dunn wants his listeners to enjoy the band's music and for people to understand this language.
The band started in 2002 after a mutual friend introduced Dunn to Fogarty. Impressed by Fogarty's abilities, they created chemistry that has been successful over the past nine years.
For Dunn, playing music has always been something that caught his attention. "As kid I was obsessed with music...if I heard a song that I liked, I had to figure out how to play it." This natural curiosity manifests in Dunn's ability to explore the boundaries of the genre while still producing catchy riffs that strike a chord with rock listeners. Accordingly, Dunn enjoys music from popular rock musicians and experimental genre-bending musicians alike--he admits that one of his favorite musicians is Beethoven.
Their latest album, It's Still Like a Secret, has an uplifting quality that absorbs and keeps the listener engaged throughout the entire album. The song structure subtly waits to climax only after thoroughly captivating the audience. This type of musicality does not require lyrics. It incites the imagination to go places that words would only inhibit.
But like many bands specializing in instrumental sounds, they are a band to be experienced live. Much like the effect trance music can have on ravers, El Ten Eleven has a mesmerizing sound that engenders positivity.
Being a duo forces El Ten Eleven to work within certain restraints. For one, Dunn plays a bass and a guitar at the same time, and juggles among audio pedals while the drummer transitions from acoustic to electric percussion. But instead of being hindered by this, it serves as the locus of their immense creativity.
While other bands might have the luxury of a keyboardist, a separate bassist, or even a producer who programs electronic drums, El Ten Eleven invents new ways to bring the same level of complexity with only two members. It's impressive to listen to. It's also particularly interesting to watch live.
