LOS ANGELES, September 19, 2008 - Sometimes so much can be said without saying a thing. Pulsating somewhere between post-rock and dance floor-ready electro, El Ten Eleven's new LP, These Promises Are Being Videotaped, is an instrumental album that speaks volumes without uttering a word. Timed with the November 18 release on Fake Record Label, the Los Angeles duo will masterfully bring these jaw-dropping compositions to life, armed with only a doubleneck bass/guitar, acoustic/electronic drums and a stage full of effects pedals, splitting time between rock venues and dance clubs, to a town near you.
Recorded in April 2008 at Clifton Studios in Montrose, Calif., These Promises Are Being Videotaped was created with a fretless bass, acoustic drums and an electronic kit. The two-man project of Kristian Dunn and Tim Fogarty, who pull double duty as the rhythm section in the critically acclaimed art-pop band The SoftLightes (Modular Records), explore new musical territory on their third full-length. "I just became obsessed with electro music," Dunn explains. "I've been going to a lot of DJ-type events and listening to music by artists like Boys Noize, Justice, Digitalism, Soulwax, etc. A lot of that music is really digital and created on computers. It has been our latest challenge to try to do this style of music live with real instruments and looping pedals."
The irresistibly titled "Jumping Frenchmen of Maine" launches the album with a throbbing bass and a steady kick drum before it erupts into a four-on-the-floor rager full of what influential blog Music For Robots describes as "absolutely sick dance riffs." "Parts that would normally go to a synth and sound flat or tired sound explosive when played on live bass here," they exclaim. "These dudes just keep getting better and better."
Clever titles such as "I Like Van Halen Because My Sister Says They Are Cool," "Fat Gym Riot," and "Adam and Nathan Totally Kick Ass" prevail throughout the album's eight tracks, highlighting the pair's sense of humor and imagination, but what is most apparent is their newfound groove. As almost a mission statement of their abilities, the band tackles Radiohead's signature song "Paranoid Android" and deconstructs it into a dark dance tune demonstrating their creativity and adroit musicianship.
Appropriately their music has been used to soundtrack myriad television shows such as "The Real World," "Shalom In The Home," "So You Think You Can Dance," and was most recently heard during the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards as Kobe Bryant took the stage. The Independent Spirit Award-nominated documentary "Helvetica" prominently featured the band's music over beautiful typography-filled cinematography.
Having just wrapped up some dates with Pinback, the duo will embark on their third national tour this fall with many more dates to be announced soon. OC Weekly recently caught one of those gigs and called it "octave-hopping, mind-boggling, looped anarchy." Adding, "[Kristian's] instrumental prowess bordered on ridiculous when he effortlessly switched to a fretless bass for some slinky bass lines."
EL TEN ELEVEN ON TOUR
November 2 - Las Vegas, Nev. @ Beatle's Revolution Lounge
November 6 - Oakland, Calif. @ The Stork Club
November 7 - San Francisco, Calif. @ Make Out Room
November 10 - Seattle, Wash. @ El Corazon
November 12 - Boise, Idaho @ Neurolux
November 15 - Denver, Colo. @ Larimer Lounge
November 17 - Kansas City, Mo. @ Record Bar
November 20 - Grand Rapids, Mich. @ Founders Brewing
November 21 - Cleveland, Ohio @ Beachland Tavern
November 25 - New Haven, Conn. @ Cafe 9
November 29 - Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Brillobox
December 1 - Ft. Wayne, Ind. @ Mid City Grill
December 20 - Tucson, Ariz. @ Plush
[more dates TBA]
THESE PROMISES ARE BEING VIDEOTAPED TRACK LISTING
1. Jumping Frenchmen Of Maine
2. I Like Van Halen Because My Sister Says They Are Cool
3. Fat Gym Riot
4. Adam And Nathan Totally Kick Ass
5. k10
6. Paranoid Android
7. Chino
8. Numb Tooth
No comments:
Post a Comment