WHERE THE LAND MEETS THE SEA – Listen For the Gulls

Sometimes even the most talented musicians just don’t sound right together. It’s like watching Jeff Beck perform with Yo-Yo Ma — both are brilliant in their own right, but just don’t feel right together. This is the case with Boston-based Where The Land Meets The Sea. Lead vocalist Nikki Dessingue never misses a note, and the drums are spectacular, with “Tiny Maps” being a particular standout track. The guitar, bass and synths do exactly what they are supposed to do.

It’s just that the sound of the whole band together feels awkward. All this talent comes together to make the same female-fronted post-hardcore sound that talks about feelings and the weather. It doesn’t make sense how a band of such good individual talent doesn’t make it work; it’s almost as if each member is trying to stand out from the pack at inopportune moments. While there truly isn’t a terrible track on this EP, there are few standouts either. Happily, the group has some time to figure out where it is heading. There is potential here for a breakout act — Where The Land Meets The Sea just needs to figure out how to harness their massive musical talents into a way to further the sound of the whole band.

(self-released, no address provided)