Perfect Machine

Amazon.com
Originally released in 1988, Perfect Machine was the third installment in Herbie Hancock's electronic trilogy that began with Future Shock and followed with Sound System. Of the three, Perfect Machine is the most minimal and groove heavy, thanks mainly to the presence of bassist Bootsy Collins (of James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic fame) and Ohio Players vocalist Sugarfoot. In fact, Perfect Machine, more so than its two predecessors, could be thought of as Hancock's stab at making an updated version of his 1970's Headhunters success. With early techno and industrial shadings coming mainly from Bill Laswell's Kraftwerk-influenced production, the album may sound surprisingly up to date to electronic music fans. With a scaled-down band (compared to Sound System) present on each track, "Perfect Machine" succeeds in creating minimalist funk grooves that integrate washes of sound from Hancock's banks of synthesizers for an effect that was enormously influential to scores of hip-hop and electronic-music producers at the time. With remastered sound and two bonus tracks (the remix of "Vibe Alive", which layers snippets of P-Funk's "Atomic Dog", is particularly tasty), Machine concludes with a rambling Laswell interview in the liner notes. Columbia Records should be commended for reissuing these albums but should be taken to task for the unimaginative packaging. --Ezra Gale

Perfect Machine,Herbie Hancock,Sony,Electro,Funk,Fusion,Jazz,Jazz Music

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Average customer rating: One Robot Under A Groove, For The Last Time Maiden Voyage/Be.Bop is the bomb! Don't do that. Review painful... Axel F on a bad day....

Perfect Machine Herbie Hancock Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Similar Items: Sound-System Future Shock Sunlight Secrets ASIN: B00004HYLD Release Date: 2000-02-08

Tracks:

1. Perfect Machine
2. Obsession
3. Vibe Alive
4. Beat Wise
5. Maiden Voyage/B. Bop
6. Chemical Residue
7. Vibe Alive (Extended Dance Mix)
8. Beat Wise (12in Edit)

Amazon.com

Originally released in 1988, Perfect Machine was the third installment in Herbie Hancock's electronic trilogy that began with Future Shock and followed with Sound System. Of the three, Perfect Machine is the most minimal and groove heavy, thanks mainly to the presence of bassist Bootsy Collins (of James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic fame) and Ohio Players vocalist Sugarfoot. In fact, Perfect Machine, more so than its two predecessors, could be thought of as Hancock's stab at making an updated version of his 1970's Headhunters success. With early techno and industrial shadings coming mainly from Bill Laswell's Kraftwerk-influenced production, the album may sound surprisingly up to date to electronic music fans. With a scaled-down band (compared to Sound System) present on each track, "Perfect Machine" succeeds in creating minimalist funk grooves that integrate washes of sound from Hancock's banks of synthesizers for an effect that was enormously influential to scores of hip-hop and electronic-music producers at the time. With remastered sound and two bonus tracks (the remix of "Vibe Alive", which layers snippets of P-Funk's "Atomic Dog", is particularly tasty), Machine concludes with a rambling Laswell interview in the liner notes. Columbia Records should be commended for reissuing these albums but should be taken to task for the unimaginative packaging. --Ezra Gale

Customer Reviews:

One Robot Under A Groove, For The Last Time.......2007-01-29

Herbie Hancock's last installment of the Rockit band let the funk capture the groove.

In what was also the last album Hancock released for Columbia Records, Bootsy Collins (b) and Sugarfoot (v) deliver outstanding performances, while Bill Laswell's production keeps the beat moving without too much clutter.

Vibe Alive comes very close to capturing the freshness of the classic cut, Rockit, and an extended dance mix is included on the CD. Beat Wise - two versions also appear - is another clubland original.

Hancock digs deep into his vast archive and reworks his 1965 hit, Maiden Voyage, with electronics & couples it with P. Bop. Perfect Machine, Obsession and Chemical Residue are interesting cuts and again demonstrates that the Hancock/Laswell collaboration were taking solid ideas and backing them up with quality work on the mixing board.

An outstanding music video was issued for Vibe Alive.

When released in 1988, the album was ripped by critics and questions were voiced on how much input Hancock actually had in the project. But by casting the drama aside and letting the music speak for itself, Perfect Machine shows there was still some hop left in the hip robot.

Maiden Voyage/Be.Bop is the bomb!.......2007-01-17

I have heard a lot of Herbie's sstuff, going all the way back to the 60's with the original Maiden Voyage, a favorite, for sure, but I am not a music snob, who cannot relate to contemporary music and an artist's changes and experimentation.

This new "Voyage" reinterpretation blew my mind. Loved it! Didn't love the whole album, this new Voyage and "Chemical Reside", (the slow "groove" piece). VERDICT: People hear what they want to hear, and music is a personal thing. I checked this out of the library the other day, and really dug it, now I'm buying it for my collection!

Don't do that........2005-07-19

Don't buy an artist's new work expecting it to sound like old work. If you can't get past an artist's old work, buy an old album. Right?

True artists are all about evolution. Duh. Nothing evolves into the same old thing. To compare this to his 60s work is stupid. And how does one confidently critcize someone with a hand in the development of a standard for breaking from it?? He PIONEERED a type a jazz and set the standard at one point. If he breaks from that standard to explore the possibility of new ones, that's his business. Just keep working on YOUR outstanding standard Jazz masterpiece. hahahaha

My fave tracks on here are Maiden Voyager/P. Bop and Chemical Residue. Check this album out and see what you think about it. As an artist myself I'm glad Mr. Hancock made this album. It boosted my creative exploratory confidence.

Review.......2005-03-04

This CD would provide the perfect elevator music in a school for the deaf.

My cat could do better scratching and the singing makes me cringe. The drum beats are unimaginative and the repetiton is mind numbing.

After hearing this music, I'm almost embarassed to be a Herbie Hancock fan. However, Chameleon more than makes up for the horrible quality heard on this CD. Spare yourself and get Headhunters.

painful... Axel F on a bad day...........2004-04-18

I like all of Herbie's stuff from the 60s and 70s. I picked this one up on a whim, curious to hear what it sounded like, expecting it to be something of a mixed bag but hoping there'd be at least one or two pleasant surprises. It's godawful. Painfully cheesy 80s synthesizer (like a bad flashback to the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack), together with a bunch of very tired sounding electric drumbeats, bad lyrics, weak scratching. I suppose this album has some value to a musicologist, as a historical document, and so on. But as something to listen to, ugh, to my ears the cheese factor is just way, way too much. I think it's great that Herbie has experimented with lots of different styles. But this album is an ugly mess better left collecting dust.

Average customer rating:

Perfect Manufacturer: 7 Sin Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items: Whispers in Rage ASIN: B000A6Z7RK

Product Description

"The First Full-Length CD From The Last Dance In Three Years Showcases A Band Ready To Take On The World With A Collection Of Strong, Catchy, And Imaginative Songs That Are Sure To Capture The Attention Of Anyone Searching For New Music That Can Stir The Heart, The Mind And The Soul." Perfect 2002 Track Listing - US 1. Parade 2. Fairytale the Storm 3. Regret (2002) 4. Winter 5. Without Words 6. Lost 7. The Hautning (2002) 8. Lullaby 9. Perfect 10. 10 11. Perfect (The Eleven Mix) 12. Winter (Standing Still) 13. Do You Believe in Angels (EDE)

Average customer rating: Very impressive indeed!!!

Perfect Machine Vision Divine Manufacturer: King ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Stream of Consciousness Legend of the Bone CARVER For the Sake of Revenge Paradise Lost ASIN: B000ALJ1F4 Release Date: 2005-10-17

Tracks:

1. Perfect Machine
2. 1st Day Of A Never-Ending Day
3. Ancestor's Blood
4. Land Of Fear
5. God Is Dead
6. Rising Sun
7. Here In 6048
8. River
9. Now That You've Gone
10. Needle Lie (Cover Of Queensryche) (Bonus Track For Japan)

Album Description

Japanese reissue has the earliest release and includes a bonus track TBA. King. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

Very impressive indeed!!!.......2006-01-29

I will be honest, this album is not perfect. However, it is plagued with the exact same faults that so many potentially platinum metal bands experience. Less than stellar audio production and mixing, combined with poor transitioning. Why do I grant it 5 stars than? Other than those typical issues, this album shines really hard. The material and melody is magnificent, and the vocals are superb. If you are not aware, the frontman and lead guitarist for this band is the founder and X-member of Labyrinth. Talk about an outrageous band, their first album "Return to Heaven Denied" almost made my weep it was so rich. This album cannot hope to restore that splendor, but does in fact glimmer with nostalgic traces. Rightly so, the mastermind Olaf Thorsen is behind it. The album itself is a concept album much like Queensryche's "Operation Mindcrime." The story is actually very decent, and has uncanny relevance to real-time events. The song 6048 is quite impressive, and the lyrics still move me after 20 listens. This album is very obscure and most people are not aware it exists. That is just too bad, it is a delight and I would recommend it to anyone, even my Grandma who is most definitely going deaf. Honestly though folks, the piano and instrumentation is top notch. I only fear that like Fabio Lione who was the X-singer, their current singer is just too damn good for this band. I would bet top dollar, that in a predestined time, he will leave this band and move on to glory. If he doesn't he is a fool, his voice is up their with the best of the best.

Average customer rating:

This Time In Between -Island Spa Mix David Feder Manufacturer: Saltwaterblue ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | New Age | Styles | Music Relaxation | New Age | Styles | Music Jazz | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00020KB3O Release Date: 2004-04-01

Tracks:

1. The Ride
2. Warm Wind
3. Island blue
4. Song for Nyan
5. Love and Fear
6. Madeline Maive
7. Suite in A
8. Leila's Dream
9. Bones' Lullaby
10. Creo
11. Black Emerald

Album Description

This is the text from the Pamphlet we are including with the

Ultimate Island Spa mix, "This Time in Between." How to use this CD The program of music on this CD offers an instrumental sequenced journey for healing therapy including preparation of the room atmosphere and the therapist's state of mind and energy level. The music then gently takes the healer and client to deeper and deeper levels of relaxation. After about an hour, the music gently brings the energy level up and leaves all involved with an uplifted spirit of hope and abundance. 1) Start CD. During songs 1&2, Prepare room atmosphere, light candles and incense. Prepare therapy surface. (table or chair) Greet client, ushering into your healing space, allowing her to relax and prepare. (undress, lay down, breathe) 2) Song 3 plays. Therapist returns and begins session. Music is still slightly upbeat but slowly easing the client out of her hectic world and into this time in between. 3) Music slows and stays mellow for the next five songs. Client drifts off to her own comfortable space. 4) With the next three songs, the musical journey begins to turn upward, slowly guiding the client back into a safe space. She is rejuvenated. And with the final song, uplifted yet still in a very mellow space. 5) Therapist and client are both left relaxed and energized.

"From One Time to Another and This Time in Between"

Average customer rating: One Robot Under A Groove, For The Last Time Maiden Voyage/Be.Bop is the bomb! Don't do that. Review painful... Axel F on a bad day....

Perfect Machine Herbie Hancock Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Jazz General | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Jazz General | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | R&B General | R&B | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | R&B General | R&B | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Funk | R&B | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Funk | R&B | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Sound-System Future Shock Sunlight Secrets ASIN: B000002644 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Perfect Machine
2. Obsession
3. Vibe Alive
4. Beat Wise
5. Maiden Voyage/P. Bop
6. Chemical Residue

Amazon.com

Originally released in 1988, Perfect Machine was the third installment in Herbie Hancock's electronic trilogy that began with Future Shock and followed with Sound System. Of the three, Perfect Machine is the most minimal and groove heavy, thanks mainly to the presence of bassist Bootsy Collins (of James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic fame) and Ohio Players vocalist Sugarfoot. In fact, Perfect Machine, more so than its two predecessors, could be thought of as Hancock's stab at making an updated version of his 1970's Headhunters success. With early techno and industrial shadings coming mainly from Bill Laswell's Kraftwerk-influenced production, the album may sound surprisingly up to date to electronic music fans. With a scaled-down band (compared to Sound System) present on each track, "Perfect Machine" succeeds in creating minimalist funk grooves that integrate washes of sound from Hancock's banks of synthesizers for an effect that was enormously influential to scores of hip-hop and electronic-music producers at the time. With remastered sound and two bonus tracks (the remix of "Vibe Alive", which layers snippets of P-Funk's "Atomic Dog", is particularly tasty), Machine concludes with a rambling Laswell interview in the liner notes. Columbia Records should be commended for reissuing these albums but should be taken to task for the unimaginative packaging. --Ezra Gale

Customer Reviews:

One Robot Under A Groove, For The Last Time.......2007-01-29

Herbie Hancock's last installment of the Rockit band let the funk capture the groove.

In what was also the last album Hancock released for Columbia Records, Bootsy Collins (b) and Sugarfoot (v) deliver outstanding performances, while Bill Laswell's production keeps the beat moving without too much clutter.

Vibe Alive comes very close to capturing the freshness of the classic cut, Rockit, and an extended dance mix is included on the CD. Beat Wise - two versions also appear - is another clubland original.

Hancock digs deep into his vast archive and reworks his 1965 hit, Maiden Voyage, with electronics & couples it with P. Bop. Perfect Machine, Obsession and Chemical Residue are interesting cuts and again demonstrates that the Hancock/Laswell collaboration were taking solid ideas and backing them up with quality work on the mixing board.

An outstanding music video was issued for Vibe Alive.

When released in 1988, the album was ripped by critics and questions were voiced on how much input Hancock actually had in the project. But by casting the drama aside and letting the music speak for itself, Perfect Machine shows there was still some hop left in the hip robot.

Maiden Voyage/Be.Bop is the bomb!.......2007-01-17

I have heard a lot of Herbie's sstuff, going all the way back to the 60's with the original Maiden Voyage, a favorite, for sure, but I am not a music snob, who cannot relate to contemporary music and an artist's changes and experimentation.

This new "Voyage" reinterpretation blew my mind. Loved it! Didn't love the whole album, this new Voyage and "Chemical Reside", (the slow "groove" piece). VERDICT: People hear what they want to hear, and music is a personal thing. I checked this out of the library the other day, and really dug it, now I'm buying it for my collection!

Don't do that........2005-07-19

Don't buy an artist's new work expecting it to sound like old work. If you can't get past an artist's old work, buy an old album. Right?

True artists are all about evolution. Duh. Nothing evolves into the same old thing. To compare this to his 60s work is stupid. And how does one confidently critcize someone with a hand in the development of a standard for breaking from it?? He PIONEERED a type a jazz and set the standard at one point. If he breaks from that standard to explore the possibility of new ones, that's his business. Just keep working on YOUR outstanding standard Jazz masterpiece. hahahaha

My fave tracks on here are Maiden Voyager/P. Bop and Chemical Residue. Check this album out and see what you think about it. As an artist myself I'm glad Mr. Hancock made this album. It boosted my creative exploratory confidence.

Review.......2005-03-04

This CD would provide the perfect elevator music in a school for the deaf.

My cat could do better scratching and the singing makes me cringe. The drum beats are unimaginative and the repetiton is mind numbing.

After hearing this music, I'm almost embarassed to be a Herbie Hancock fan. However, Chameleon more than makes up for the horrible quality heard on this CD. Spare yourself and get Headhunters.

painful... Axel F on a bad day...........2004-04-18

I like all of Herbie's stuff from the 60s and 70s. I picked this one up on a whim, curious to hear what it sounded like, expecting it to be something of a mixed bag but hoping there'd be at least one or two pleasant surprises. It's godawful. Painfully cheesy 80s synthesizer (like a bad flashback to the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack), together with a bunch of very tired sounding electric drumbeats, bad lyrics, weak scratching. I suppose this album has some value to a musicologist, as a historical document, and so on. But as something to listen to, ugh, to my ears the cheese factor is just way, way too much. I think it's great that Herbie has experimented with lots of different styles. But this album is an ugly mess better left collecting dust.

Average customer rating: Fury 66 is a very good band a pretty good punk album

No Perfect Machine Fury 66 Manufacturer: Half Pint ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B0000523K1 Release Date: 2000-11-07

Tracks:

1. Content?
2. P.C.O.D.
3. Future
4. Catch 22
5. PG-13
6. Nothing's Cool
7. Poor Me
8. Tragedy
9. No One's There
10. Salt On The Wound
11. Insecurity
12. My Old Man
13. Crowded Streets
14. Ego-Statistic

Customer Reviews:

Fury 66 is a very good band.......2001-06-07

This band has great music and its the best i have heard in while. i still have this cd in my cd player and i listen to it all t he time.This is a great punk band.Alll the songs in here I like and thats what I think about this cd.The singer in this album is excellent.But the other cd is better

a pretty good punk album.......2000-11-30

If you mixed good riddence and pennywise, thats a pretty good description of Fury 66. they have pretty melodic songs, but a bit more aggresive at parts. there are some really good songs on this CD, but on the whole, ive heard the sound so many times before, but by no means bad. if you looking for a good melodic punk band, fury 66 is for you.

Average customer rating:

Perfect Machine Vision Divine Manufacturer: Season of Mist ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Similar Items: United Ghost Opera Stream of Consciousness Unia Snakes & Arrows ASIN: B000FOPPR4 Release Date: 2006-07-11

Tracks:

1. Perfect Machine
2. 1st Day of a Never-Ending Day
3. Ancestor's Blood
4. Land of Fear
5. God Is Dead
6. Rising Sun
7. Here in 6048
8. River
9. Now That You've Gone

Average customer rating:

Perfect Machine ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000ILZA0G Release Date: 2006-10-10

Average customer rating:

Perfect Machine Vision Divine Manufacturer: Seoul Record ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000CEWXPY Release Date: 2005-12-05

Tracks:

1. Perfect Machine
2. 1st Day Of A Neverending Day
3. Ancestor's Blood
4. Land Of Fear
5. God Is Dead - Mp3
6. Rising Sun
7. Here In 6048
8. River
9. Now That You've Gone
10. Secret Of Life (Live)

Album Details

Produced by Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius).

Average customer rating: One of the best concept albums as of late...

Perfect Machine Vision Divine Manufacturer: Scarlet ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Stream of Consciousness Legend of the Bone CARVER Tools of Destruction Silent Company Burning ASIN: B000BRQOSE Release Date: 2006-03-31

Tracks:

1. Perfect Machine
2. 1st Day of a Never-Ending Day
3. Ancestor's Blood
4. Land of Fear
5. God Is Dead
6. Rising Sun
7. Here in 6048
8. River
9. Now That You've Gone

Album Description

Their most mature album, a perfect mix between power, aggression, class and melody! An amazing production and an incredible songwriting! A complex and deep concept-story. Scarlet. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best concept albums as of late..........2006-02-04

Vision Divine is one of those bands that had the misfortune of mainly being discovered by listeners through its past connection to the band Rhapsody. While one may think this would be a good thing, the fact Fabio Lione handled the vocal duties on the band's first two albums really had the opposite effect, as any attention paid to the band was completely misdirected and not directed to where it should have been. With Fabio at the mic the band would never become its own entity.

This all changed with the band's 2004 album, Stream of Consciousness. Lione was replaced by vocalist Michele Luppi, who really took hold of the reigns and definitely proved he was the missing piece of the puzzle. In trading down for a lesser known vocalist, Vision Divine actually traded up and gained that individuality that had been seeking for.

The Perfect Machine continues the positive trends found on Stream of Consciousness, but takes on a personality all its own. From the beginning, one can tell The Perfect Machine is more guitar driven than the band's previous album but still contains a respectable amount of synth the band is known for. There are a few occasions where the synthesizers come close to overstepping what I would consider tasteful (a good example would be the certain parts of the track "God is Dead"), this is easily forgiven when you realize when the vast majority of the music is extremely well done.

The most impressive aspect of The Perfect Machine has to be the concept at the core of the album. Concept albums may be a dime a dozen in today's world, but the fact the story can be easily deciphered from the lyrics by the listener ultimately makes this a thinking man's album. I honestly haven't been so infatuated with an album such as this since Queensryche's Operation: Mindcrime (not that I'm comparing this album to Operation: Mindcrime, as it is in a league of its own), but the story, with its definite religious overtones, really makes you think for yourself.

With its poignant concept, improved production values and overall presentation, I would definitely suggest anyone with an interest in the genre to check out this album and Vision Divine in general. Even though I hold the band's previous release in higher regard, The Perfect Machine, while not perfect, is definitely a worthy follow-up.

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