Genre/Influences: Electro-pop. Background/Info: Huminoida returns with a new full length album, which is the second…
Genre/Influences: Electro-pop.
Background/Info: Huminoida returns with a new full length album, which is the second one in the band’s history. A hiatus of 7 years separates both releases although several EP’s have been released in the meantime. Kimmo Karjalainen (previously involved with Active Media Disease and Neuroactive) remains the single member on board.
Content: “Huminoida” always has composed a rather unique electro-pop format. It is clearly distant from the ‘classical’ Depeche Mode-clones and other clichés. “The Grey Area” sometimes appears to be electro-pop music to listen instead of music to dance to. The lyrics are quite important, reflecting the global malaise of the world we’re actually living in. That’s precisely what reflects the title of this work.
It’s an emotional pop format, which however reveals a few more powerful cuts. The opening part (first four tracks) of the work is more entertaining while the other cuts left are more into melancholia and emotion.
+ + + : There’s a cool vintage touch running through this album. The great and unique sound treatments inject some magic here resulting in a brilliant song entitled “Just By Wishing”, which reminds me of Trans-X. I also noticed some solid and even somewhat EBM bass lines in the first part of the work. The second part is different and more refined in production. It feels a bit like Huminoida wants to show a more sensitive side finding its ultimate point at “I’ll Meet You There”.
I also have to say a word about the great 20x20cm booklet joined by the CD. It’s once more a confirmation that a hard copy with the illustration material is so much more than streaming and digital platforms.
– – – : Speaking for myself I was less convinced by the softer side of the work. I don’t have anything against this more sensitive work, but the songs remain somewhat flat here except the beautiful final track.
Conclusion: Huminoida is back on track with a noticeable alternative to stereotypical electro-pop standards. Change is the spice of life…
Best songs: “Just By Wishing”, “Thoughts Like Insects”, “Contradictator”, “I’ll Meet You There”.
Since you’re here …
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. And unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.
Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.
If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
The donations are safely powered by Paypal.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.