Ellis Island Sound

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...
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