Bernhoft & The Fashion Bruises, Humanoid - album review

This sounds a bit like a glossy film soundtrack to a buddy journey movie. Two or three blokes, maybe they've made some wrong choices in life. Now, for reasons out of their hands like one of them about to lose his woman or perhaps fighting for custody of a child, they discover more about themselves and the world than they ever imagined possible.

It mixes sweet pop hooks with funky soul and R&B grooves to leave you with a nice, foot-tapping, if not overly mesmerising record.

It's not 'safe' by any stretch of the imagination. Bernhoft and the gang mix things up from track to track nicely. With the jingling piano solo on Lookalike, the Daft Punk-esque electro guitars on the title track and the scorched, desolate outro on Beliefs that Radiohead could adore. There is something different lurking around each corner.

So why doesn't the record score higher? It's hard to put an immediate finger on. Yet through multiple listens it becomes abundant there is no real grip throughout. It all feels a little fleeting and empty as a result.

Those cool little moments don't hang around long enough to make us love this. And by the time the ever-revolving sound of the next number is with us you've almost forgotten the last bit.

The American wilderness rock of For The Benefit is multi-layered and betrays some heartache behind the fixed smile of those guitars and swooning backing vocals.

The Kings Of Leon-esque Dreamweaver again utilises guitars to string us along interspersed with strong, measured percussion. That opening title track Humanoid is a rich, almost eerie number too as the robots 'take over'.

But as a journey, this record feels a little soulless. Listen to it as a collection of singles instead and you'll maybe love it more.

Rating: 6/10

Bernhoft & The Fashion Bruises play Birmingham's O2 Institute on November 13