Ellis Island Sound
Encyclopedia
Ellis Island Sound are an instrumental
band from London
, England
. They started as a duo consisting of multi-instrumentalists Peter Astor
(formerly of The Loft
, The Weather Prophets
) and David Sheppard (of State River Widening
), and have since expanded to 12 members, including Darren Hayman
, formerly of Hefner
.
The band formed in 1997, and have recorded for a number of different labels. Their music varies from electronic-tinged soundscapes to neo-Krautrock
and folk-tinged reveries.
Astor and Sheppard have also recorded and toured together with Matador
recording artists The Wisdom Of Harry
, which Astor helms, while Sheppard makes records with State River Widening
and in partnership with SRW's Keiron Phelan (for The Leaf Label
) and for Anglo-Spanish group, Continental Film Night (Tinhorn/Dock) amongst others.
As a duo, EIS recorded for labels including All City Chicago, Faux-Lux, Static Caravan, Warp
and Island
and EMI
, as well as remixing for other bands, including the Manic Street Preachers
single "Ocean Spray
". The band released their debut album, in 2002, which was compiled from these recordings and released by Heavenly
/EMI.
This was followed by a limited edition, vinyl only mini album (Home Service released by Static Caravan in 2003) EIS regrouped to record a self styled 'agrarian' album, The Good Seed, in 2005. Released in February 2007 on the Peacefrog Records
label, it was recorded in a tiny, deconsecrated chapel in the Waveney
Valley on the Suffolk
/Norfolk
border. The Good Seed features twenty rustic-yet-sophisticated new recordings concocted from acoustic
instruments that range from parlour guitars and ukuleles to pump harmoniums, dulcimer
s, goat skin drums and washboards. Recorded on an arcane 8-track tape recorder, it presents a stripped down EIS, though still finds room for such instrumental exotica as stylophones, a mini-sampler, a Bentley Rhythm Ace
drum machine and miscellaneous noise making devices. Josh Hillman (of the Willard Grant Conspiracy) contributes violin, viola and pedal steel.
Since the completing the record Astor and Sheppard have expanded the band into the current lineup of 12 members, sometimes described as 'The Ellis Island Sound Orchestra' for their 2007 tour. The current line up includes David Sheppard on guitar, Peter Astor on ukulele, Iain Lowery (from the Lost Levels) on guitar, Dan Mayfield on violin, Darren Hayman on bass, Nick Buxton on harmonium, Matthew on trombone, Aki Paivarinne on saxophone, Helen McGrath on violin, Josh Hillman on viola, Tom Colman on drums and Josh Weller on percussion.
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
band from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. They started as a duo consisting of multi-instrumentalists Peter Astor
Peter Astor
Pete Astor is a British songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work with The Loft, The Weather Prophets and Ellis Island Sound.- History :...
(formerly of The Loft
The Loft (band)
The Loft were a British indie band, whose debut single was one of the earliest releases on Creation Records.- History :Formed in 1980 as The Living Room by Peter Astor , Bill Prince , Andy Strickland and Dave Morgan , the band changed its name when they discovered a local music venue also called...
, The Weather Prophets
The Weather Prophets
The Weather Prophets were a British indie band formed in London in 1986 after the break-up of The Loft. After two studio albums, the band split up, with singer Peter Astor going on to a solo career.- History :...
) and David Sheppard (of State River Widening
State River Widening
State River Widening, named after the title of a Chinese propaganda photo, are a London based trio, comprising multi-instrumentalists David Sheppard and Keiron Phelan, along with drummer/percussionist Jon Steele....
), and have since expanded to 12 members, including Darren Hayman
Darren Hayman
Darren Russell Hayman is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist in Hefner...
, formerly of Hefner
Hefner (band)
Hefner were a British indie rock and "urban folk" band formed in east London in 1995. They were active from about 1996 until 2002; since then they have played together only once, for a tribute to the DJ John Peel, who was a strong supporter of theirs....
.
The band formed in 1997, and have recorded for a number of different labels. Their music varies from electronic-tinged soundscapes to neo-Krautrock
Krautrock
Krautrock is a generic name for the experimental music scenes that appeared in Germany in the late 1960s and gained popularity throughout the 1970s, especially in Britain. The term is a result of the English-speaking world's reception of the music at the time and not a reference to any one...
and folk-tinged reveries.
Astor and Sheppard have also recorded and toured together with Matador
Matador Records
Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have...
recording artists The Wisdom Of Harry
The Wisdom of Harry
The Wisdom of Harry was an experimental electronic music ensemble from London, England. The group was formed by Peter Astor, formerly the singer/songwriter of Weather Prophets and The Loft, in 1997 and began doing remixes for musicians such as Cornelius and Andrew Weatherall...
, which Astor helms, while Sheppard makes records with State River Widening
State River Widening
State River Widening, named after the title of a Chinese propaganda photo, are a London based trio, comprising multi-instrumentalists David Sheppard and Keiron Phelan, along with drummer/percussionist Jon Steele....
and in partnership with SRW's Keiron Phelan (for The Leaf Label
The Leaf Label
The Leaf Label is an independent record label based in Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Initially known as an electronic music label, releasing mainly instrumental music, the company's approach has broadened over the last few years and now features an eclectic range of artists, with a focus on strong...
) and for Anglo-Spanish group, Continental Film Night (Tinhorn/Dock) amongst others.
As a duo, EIS recorded for labels including All City Chicago, Faux-Lux, Static Caravan, Warp
Warp Records
Warp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is a pioneering independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the more enduring artists in electronic music....
and Island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
and EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, as well as remixing for other bands, including the Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
single "Ocean Spray
Ocean Spray (song)
"Ocean Spray" is a song by the Manic Street Preachers, which was released as a single on June 4, 2001, the third song to be released from the album Know Your Enemy...
". The band released their debut album, in 2002, which was compiled from these recordings and released by Heavenly
Heavenly Records
Heavenly Records, aka Heavenly Recordings, is a London-based record label, distributed by EMI. Founded by Jeff Barrett, a former press officer for Creation Records and many successful indie bands of the time including Happy Mondays, Heavenly Recordings' first releases were 7" and 12" singles for...
/EMI.
This was followed by a limited edition, vinyl only mini album (Home Service released by Static Caravan in 2003) EIS regrouped to record a self styled 'agrarian' album, The Good Seed, in 2005. Released in February 2007 on the Peacefrog Records
Peacefrog Records
Peacefrog Records are an independent record label based in London, United Kingdom. The label produces releases in many different styles of electronic music as well as branching out into folk and indie artists such as José González and Nouvelle Vague. Started by Pete Hutchison and Paul Ballard in...
label, it was recorded in a tiny, deconsecrated chapel in the Waveney
River Waveney
The Waveney is a river which forms the border between Suffolk and Norfolk, England, for much of its length within The Broads.-Course:The source of the River Waveney is a ditch on the east side of the B1113 road between the villages of Redgrave, Suffolk and South Lopham, Norfolk...
Valley on the Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
/Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
border. The Good Seed features twenty rustic-yet-sophisticated new recordings concocted from acoustic
Musical acoustics
Musical acoustics or music acoustics is the branch of acoustics concerned with researching and describing the physics of music – how sounds employed as music work...
instruments that range from parlour guitars and ukuleles to pump harmoniums, dulcimer
Appalachian dulcimer
The Appalachian dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings. It is native to the Appalachian region of the United States...
s, goat skin drums and washboards. Recorded on an arcane 8-track tape recorder, it presents a stripped down EIS, though still finds room for such instrumental exotica as stylophones, a mini-sampler, a Bentley Rhythm Ace
Bentley Rhythm Ace
Bentley Rhythm Ace are a duo formed in Birmingham, England in 1997, consisting of Mike Stokes and Richard March.-Career:The band was formed in Birmingham by Richard March, formerly with the group Pop Will Eat Itself, and Mike Stokes, with guest appearances by James Atkin, a member of indie band EMF...
drum machine and miscellaneous noise making devices. Josh Hillman (of the Willard Grant Conspiracy) contributes violin, viola and pedal steel.
Since the completing the record Astor and Sheppard have expanded the band into the current lineup of 12 members, sometimes described as 'The Ellis Island Sound Orchestra' for their 2007 tour. The current line up includes David Sheppard on guitar, Peter Astor on ukulele, Iain Lowery (from the Lost Levels) on guitar, Dan Mayfield on violin, Darren Hayman on bass, Nick Buxton on harmonium, Matthew on trombone, Aki Paivarinne on saxophone, Helen McGrath on violin, Josh Hillman on viola, Tom Colman on drums and Josh Weller on percussion.
Albums
- Ellis Island Sound (2002) Heavenly/EMI
- Home Service (2003) Static Caravan
- The Good Seed (2007) Peacefrog
Singles/EPs
- "All City EP"
- "Data Centre" (1999) Faux-Lux
- "#7 Goes East" (2000) Static Caravan
- "Gene Pool" (2006) Static Caravan