Yesness - Kristian Dunn (El Ten Eleven) and Damon Che (Don Cabellero) - 21+

The odd couple of Kristian Dunn (El Ten Eleven) and Damon Che (Don Caballero) was the result of some clever musical matchmaking by Karl Hofstetter, founder and curator of JoyfulNoise Recordings. Karl introduced Dunn and Che via email in April 2023 after Dunn’s prolific output outgrew the resources and abilities of his instrumental duo El Ten Eleven. Less than ayear later, after countless text messages and song sketches were exchanged, and one fateful meeting at a recording studio was organized, their nascent project’s debut record, See You at the Solipsist Convention, was complete.

 

Despite Che’s initial unfamiliarity with Dunn’s musical output, their personalities bridged any and all gaps—both Che and Dunn share a flair for the comically absurd and musically adventurous, a mindset that shines throughout See You at the Solipsist Convention. Che has become legendary for his calculated polyrhythms and undeniable physicality, while Dunn is known for relentless experimentation and productivity akin to a freight train. Quickly, the unlikely pair transformed into destined collaborators.

 

Scaffolded around eight-string bass, knotty percussion, and intricate syncopation, See You at the Solipsist Convention is a carnival of delights for fans of the post-everything persuasion—uncategorizable yet reverent to the altar of instrumental rock.