The First - Land And Sea [EP]

Lockjaw

The First are not "The First" band to create an EP sounding like 'Land and Sea', that is melodic pop punk tunes not too short of Taking Back Sunday. In fact there is whole plethora of influential references on show on 'Land and Sea', from Funeral For A Friend to Gallows. This is all hunky dory, but there is no real spark that hits you on listening to 'Land And Sea'.

'Land And Sea' is the Cambridgeshire five piece's second EP attempt. 'Land and Sea' does have a more "hardcore edge" but the production is nothing to write home about. If this is their better quality EP then their "first" must have been pretty poor. The songs do feature some great vocal lines and pace changes, it's just the whole record has a demo feel- as if it's been recorded at a little distance away. At times though the songs do feel great and you do forget your listening to a demo quality EP. The guitars on opener "Lily Allen Keys" sound pretty horrific, even out of tune at some points. Whether that is the effect or not I am not sure about but, it just doesn't sound right. Lead vocalist Matt Smith gives off a horrible first impression with the first line: "Breathless and confused I'm slightly amused by the fact that I'm sitting on the edge of your bed"; It sounds un-natural and your typical British band American wannabe. His vocals seem a lot more comfortable in the other four tracks. Vocally standing out on "Little Hell" using his vocal chords to move up and down the harmonic scale on build-ups: "And after, seven"; Sounds bloody great.

Throughout each song you could swear you were listening to Funeral for a Friend feat Gallows, then Blink 182 coming in for a cup of tea. Alexisonfire then turn up the heat. It's just a whole record of different bands and not The First's own sound I feel.

With a mixed box of sounds The First successfully create a mish mash of different bands in one five track EP.