Eleven Pond, the Rochester, NY band only released a single LP in their time (1986) together before dissolving into obscurity. Their sound merging of post punk, dark dance and synthpop full of melodic arrangements reflected the originality of gifted songwriters who met in art school with a shared interest in 4AD and Factory Records.
In 2009 album were reissued on limited vinyl via Dark Entries Records (US), now in 2011 we bring you CD version of this fantastic records! CD version also contains Watching Trees video clip.

Mick Mercer:

A band and record so inspirational it has two re-releases!!! Josh Cheon at Dark Entries did one of his magical vinyl offerings, and now Oleg Galay offers a CD re-release to our ears, freshly mastered by Martin Bowes (the CD, not our ears). A set of 80’s post-punk ghosts inspired by the 4AD ethos, sounding thin and inventively restless, pushing a whole storm into a sleek envelope. Jeff Gallea (bass), James Tabbir (vocals), Dan Brumley (synth) and Jack Schaeffer (guitar) only had the one album released before evaporating. This is that album. The original 1986 release on Game Hen can sell for $900! ‘Tear And Cinnamon’ has twee guitar and gentle drums behind sensitive vocals but this is an illusion as these are skilful tendrils of sound and delicacy is always harder to master. Odd synth nuances float through the ether in which they space walk. As the drums keep meticulous pace, with occasional tinny tintinnabulation, the bass trudges, albeit nimbly, the guitar beetles around artfully and the vocals exude trapped romance. Then comes the odd change as ‘Watching Trees’ switches into a synthpop direction and we’re no longer thinking of American cousins to Modern English but early Depeche Mode instead; effortless, genial, catchy. ‘Days Hence’ mooches into indie territory with a gorgeous vocal display involving a seamless lyrical flow over these sumptuous folds. ‘Tightrope’ skips along with more sensual moves, the bass fluttering, the diminutive vocals teetering delightfully. ‘Portugal’ is lighter-headed cosy pop, while ‘Asterisk’ has some heat in the air itself, the guitar exhausted, beautifully brittle, the vocals wan but growing assertive. ‘Moving Nowhere’ has some plunkier bass and a dizzy overall scamper not unlike the Popinjays! ‘Changing Face’ is another slippery indie drama, with the mesmerising ‘Temporal’ altogether more atmospheric and austere, bordering on stunning because very few lost treasures usually resurface offering quite such quality and the exquisite ache to the vocals reminds me of someone but I can’t dredge it out of my mind, but moving into Red Guitars territory perhaps? ‘Ignorant Father’ is aerated pointed pop drama, with ‘Ask (Jealousy)’ ending things (there is video included of ‘Watching Trees’ but my pc is playing up), a melodica burbling, the bass now very forward, the vocals scattered…and as with so many of their songs tension has never seemed less tense. Thngs hang together brilliantly but in a forlorn manner you feel shouldn’t work, but that’s what makes them, stand out. They had their own way.

Chain DLK:

Coming from Rochester, NY, Eleven Pond released only an album for their own label Game Hen Records in 1986. After that release they faded away like they never existed. Those eleven tracks were like lost in oblivion before Dark Entries decided to reissue that album in 2009. The last year, the Russian label Other Voices, released on CD a new reissue mastered by Attrition's Martin Bowes. "Bas Relief", shows a band that was able to mix different influences into their sound: new wave, shoegaze, post punk and synthpop were the genres that excited Dan Brumley, Jeff Gallea, James Tabbir and Jack Schaeffer. The album opens with two gems: "Tear And Cinnamon" (musically it reminds me of Bauhaus' "She's In Party") and "Watching The Trees" (this one is a synthpop hit with catchy melodies). On the following "Days Hence" and "Tightrope" they recall the best 4AD bands of the likes of early Modern English. "Portugal" calls in synthpop music again and it sounds fresh and convincing. "Asterisk" and "Moving Nowhere" sound new wave with a bit of pop easyness. Other tracks I enjoyed particularly are "Temporal" and "Ignorant Father". The first has a sensual almost melancholic atmosphere while the latter is a post punk intriguing song with guitar feedbacks and drum machine beats. Mixing dark atmospheres and fresh ideas coming from a personal interpretation of late 70s/early 80s alternative sounds, Eleven Pond created this nice record and now you're able to enjoy it again!

Trinity Magazine:

Eleven Pond hail from the US, and released ‘Bas Relief’ in 1986 through Game Hen Records. The curiously named “Tear and Cinnamon” opens the LP in a haze of guitars and drumbeats. Schaeffer’s solos have a lonesome quality to them, with post-punk notes coming through in arches of distortion. “Watching Trees” is an absolute gem. It runs along the lines of catchy new wave perfection. At the half point Gallea comes in with an epic bassline driving like Joy Division. It is the kind of track you find yourself humming in the car and singing around the house. Tabbi’s lyrics, “I want to be, in a tree, watching you, watching trees...” do not lend themselves to an addictiveness on reading, but blended with some superb synthwork and unrequited love, everything falls into place. A synth-pop masterpeice. “Days Hence” is a slow autumnal piece that folds into the notes of “Tightrope.” “Portugal” has an edge of lost romance to it as the tempo rises, but is kept in check by the synth, string and bass. The vocals have a subtle doubling to them, adding a sombre slant to the upbeat nature of the instrumentals. The light draining “Asterisk” opens the B-Side. 1980s unhappiness drips from the speakers, with powerful vocals being the apex of the track. The uncertainty seems to be vanquished with the cheery chords of “Moving Nowhere.” Warmth enters with strings, as hard synths take a sideline. Yet, this ‘Nowhere’ is not exactly a positive place; one more of ‘buildings burning’ and ‘blood flows.’ “Changing Faces” sees the return of arpeggio synths, with vocals cleaned up for the return of analogue heaven. Strings are employed beautifully to create a crisp piece of clever synthwave. Things are slowed down for “Temporeal” before guitars display hate for family in the powerful “Ignorant Father.” The brief but somber “Ask” brings down the curtain on the classic album ‘Bas Relief’, a monument of 1980’s synth music. Clever melodies, perfect electronic composition and the freshness of a new style of music strung through with a D.I.Y. innocence endemic to much of the best new minimal synth. Just wonderful.

Aquarius Records:

What a total gem! An amazing unearthed, ultra obscure album from way back in 1986. Hailing from Rochester, NY, Eleven Pond crafted super infectious dark pop with wonderful synth moments and song writing that has really held up over the years. Some of the production, and much of the overall sound reminds us a bit of Seventeen Seconds era Cure, where basslines lead the tracks and the guitars and synths add such a nice mood and texture. We’re also reminded a lot of another obscure mid ’80s band, For Against, who had the same ability to take Factory/4AD elements and influences and meld them so nicely with classic eighties American college rock, they kind of sounded like this amazing hybrid of Joy Division and R.E.M. With new romantic vocals that totally tap into vintage Depeche Mode and New Order territory, we also hear echoes of other lesser known yet great bands of this era like Soul Merchants and Jet Black Factory. With so many new bands lately referencing that era and looking to similarly vintage sounds for inspiration, it’s so refreshing to hear an actual relic from that period, too bad it sadly somehow slipped through the cracks, but now we can finally enjoy this set of songs, so worthy of much wider appreciation. Limited to a pressing of 500. Grab one while you can, as this is highly recommended!

Grave Jibes:

"Bas Relief" happened to be the first and the only released album of Eleven Pond initially was issued by the band itself in 1986 in 500 handnumbered copies. And listening to this work now can a one guess what prevented this band from getting the deserved attention and admiration at the time? Try if you want, but be ready for failure. Very clearly flirting with new wave and pop sounds, Eleven Pond still manages to be a DIY dark wave band, which remaining soft doesn't become "sweet" and "tender". This whole pattern indeed can be compared to the well-known British acts, like New Order or The Smiths, but at the same time, the music of "Bas Relief" is the music of slightly another environment, in which passion and willingness are the issues of survival. And another reason to not to compare Eleven Pond to these bands is that all the latter had their rises and falls, whereas Eleven Pond could be called a bright flash of light on the post-punk / new wave field. Performed in a surprisingly confident and skilled way, all the songs are 100% hits with a fresh approach and glancing passionate tension. This music will stay with you for a long time if only you give it a chance.

Eleven Pond
Bas Relief

Release date: November 2011
Catalogue number: VOX10CD
Packaging: 4 panel digipak
CD Pressing: 500 copies
File under: New wave / Minimal
Artwork by: Jeff Gallea & Oleg Galay

1. Tear And Cinnamon
2. Watching Trees
3. Days Hence
4. Tightrope
5. Portugal
6. Asterisk
7. Moving Nowhere
8. Changing Face
9. Temporal
10. Ignorant Father
11. Ask (Jealousy)
12. Watching Trees (Video)