By Colin 
Every now and then, a band or album appears and manages to strike exactly the right chord. It is rare, but it does happen. 6 Day Riot, fronted by the ever-charismatic Tamara Schlesinger, is one of those bands. After quietly building a name for themselves over the past few years, they truly grabbed our attention with 6 Day Riot Have A Plan. That release was brilliantly fun, packed with energy and colour, but it never quite received the critical attention or public acclaim it deserved. Will that change with On This Island?
The early signs are promising. From the outset, the album bursts with personality. The musical influences are many, but what lingers longest are the mariachi horns and pounding, joyous drums that first erupt partway through the opening track and continue to echo throughout. This is music that refuses to sit still, constantly shifting shape while somehow holding together.
What might seem unpredictable on paper feels cohesive in practice. There are shades of pop, indie, folk, electronica, and Latin rhythms, all bound together by a confident marching-band pulse. It should be chaotic. It should fall apart. And yet it never does. That consistency is due in large part to Schlesinger’s vocals, which bring strength and control to even the most eclectic moments. Her voice ties everything together, creating a sense of order in the playful chaos.
Bold, joyful and completely unpredictable
Each track adds new layers and lifts the bar a little higher. There is no sense of filler or drop in quality. In fact, one of the most impressive things about On This Island is its refusal to settle. Just when you think you have it figured out, it moves in a new and unexpected direction. The album reaches its true high point with ‘All I Need’, a song that mirrors the opener with a soaring chorus and the same unmistakable drum-and-horn combination that has been a steady presence throughout.
On This Island is a vibrant mix of ideas, sounds and emotions. It walks a fine line between ambitious and excessive, but never loses its footing. Despite the variety, it never tips into quirkiness for the sake of it. Instead, it remains grounded, confident and filled with joy. If we ever find ourselves on that island, this is the one disc we will want with us.
Colin