Interstate Island is an audio project inspired by the classic 1970s albums of Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
After experimenting with rock musicians who might gel with the type of lush, string-heavy sound he sought, lead singer-songwriter Eddie Andrews has created the project’s debut album, Brave New World.
Instead of a traditional rock band set-up, Andrews has collaborated with producer Matt Wallace, arranger Steve Turner, and a 21-piece string section from the Scotland National Symphony and BBC orchestras.
While a second album has already been planned and written, Brave New World is now available for listeners to enjoy. As a fan of prog rock and AOR I was interested in hearing what Andrews, Wallace and Turner have come up with.
It is a project which doesn’t just show the influence of ELO to my ears, but also Pink Floyd and T-Rex. The string arrangements give a grandeur which feels like it was from fifty years ago while having a contemporary sound.
With ten tracks – I particularly enjoyed “Grey Wolf”, “Other Places” and “Requiem for a Battery” (which acknowledges the 20th anniversary of the destruction of the World Trade Center) – this is a tight project which feels like a cohesive whole while being an album in which you can dip in and out.
Brave New World is available in both physical (CD) and digital download formats (full album or individual tracks). You can read about the project on the Interstate Island website.
***.5