Nelson bluesy-soul artist Steve Mitchell presents this 12-track album as a self-titled debut release from his rocking live band Humankindness, though the musicians used in the recording are, but for him, all different. Indeed three of the tracks here were recorded in Leicester, England, the balance in Nelson where all instruments were played/programmed/recorded and produced by Mitchell. The live band’s four piece male line up is notably augmented here by Hannah Gibson’s striking vocals on several tracks. With touches of blues, folk, soul and a pop sensibility throughout this is a band of broad enough appeal that they performed at a run of jazz festivals throughout 2015. Early instrumental track Heart-Shaped Mirror is a showcase of the quality guitar playing on offer, with great interplay between acoustic parts and melodic slide guitar lines. While the apologetic Heading North and single Your Words Not Mine fall on the contemplative side, they are accompanied by enough spark in tracks like Sold In Heaven and Calendar Blues to engage on first listen. The variation of approaches to the songs and tidy slide guitar playing are reason enough to give ‘Humankindness’ a go.