Unsigned Act Of The Week: The 286

Band names including coded, vital numbers – such as The 1975 and Blink 182 – are becoming ever increasingly popular and it’s startlingly simple to get lost within the crowd of numerical terms. However, the London based The 286 have created a defining marriage of swooning rhythms and an alluring, honeyed vocal so breathtakingly diverse, it’s inevitable that this band’s sound will infect every crevice of the brain and will become impossible to forget. With the recent release of their mini-album EP, The 286 have played their cards right and have managed to present the next generation of music.

Making up the only UK rock orchestra, The 286 are six London based musicians, all of whom have a passion for controlled, harmonising tunes, showcased in the brightest light on EP. Featuring a synthesiser rubbing shoulders with a distinguished violin, both of which are then complimented by the core elements of rock n’ roll, The 286 are utterly unique and overwhelmingly brilliant.

The follow up to The 286’s debut release, A Victory For Battalion 286, (a release which established the band’s status as being the UK’s exclusive rock orchestra) is EP, which features both a radio-friendly and extended version of ‘Let The Rain Fall Down’ and two other self-crafted tracks: ‘Miracle on 286th Street’ and ‘Little Louisa’.

Opening EP is ‘Let The Rain Fall Down’; a track highlighting the commanding orchestral side of The 286 in all its glory. Crashing symbols, heavy violin lines and sliding guitar riffs are the main components of EP‘s first track. This unusual combination of string instruments looks peculiar on paper, yet, when ‘Let The Rain Fall Down’ rumbles in, it’s as if pure beauty is oozing itself from the flowing instruments, making it above all, completely mesmerising to both listen to and imagine.

‘Miracle on 286th Street’ – a rockier, more daring step from the sextet – sounds like something that strikingly deserves to become a theme-tune to a suspense-riddled drama. Featuring heart-racing drums and alert strings, this sole instrumental track manages to showcase the pure talent and ability which the six musicians firmly grasp in their hands.

Shaking the world awake on third alliterative track, ‘Little Louisa’, is the first real industry-standard offering of the sugary sweet vocal which The 286 poses in their armoury. Stacked and layered with an intense range of pouring emotions, ‘Little Louisa’ is easily a track which will loop itself around your heart and not seem to loosen its grip for many moons to come.

The 286 have managed to create a spark of hopeful happiness on their most recent mini-album EP. Blurring the lines of rock and orchestral music with a simple flick of the wrist, it’s no wonder this band are slowly crawling their way into the limelight.

EP, the fantastic mini-album by The 286 is available to purchase now, here.

Ella Scott
@ell44h