ProJazz.net

Perfect Machine is the thirty-second album by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock. It was the third and final album in Hancock’s series co-produced by Bill Laswell. Guests include bassist Bootsy Collins.

Reception

Set upon recapturing the pop ground he had invaded with Future Shock, Hancock relies upon many of the former’s ingredients for yet another go-’round on Perfect Machine. High-tech producer Bill Laswell is back, so is scratchmaster D. ST. — and armed with a warehouse of mostly digital keyboards, Hancock adds the distinctive bass of Bootsy Collins and the Ohio Players’ vocalist Sugarfoot, who always sounds as if he had just swallowed something. The music is mostly thumping, funk-drenched techno-pop which still has some verve, particularly the designated single “Vibe Alive” and the “Maiden Voyage” interlude as heard through an electronic fun-house mirror (AllMusic).

Track listing
All songs by Hancock, Laswell, Collins and Bonner, except where noted.

“Perfect Machine” (Hancock, Laswell, Skopelitis) – 6:35
“Obsession” – 5:20
“Vibe Alive” (Hancock, Laswell, Collins, Bonner, Mico Wave) – 5:26
“Beat Wise” – 5:52
“Maiden Voyage/P. Bop” – 6:34
“Chemical Residue” (Hancock) – 6:01

Personnel
Herbie Hancock – piano, Fairlight CMI Series I & II, Roland Super Jupiter, Rhodes Chroma, Macintosh Plus, Yamaha DX1, Yamaha DX7 and DX7IIFD, Kurzweil K250, Yamaha TX816, Oberheim Matrix–12, Akai S900, vocoder
Jeff Bova, Pete Sturge – synth programming
Bootsy Collins – bass guitar, vocoder
Mico Wave – Minimoog bass, talk box, vocoder
Pete Sturge – keyboards, samples and editing
Nicky Skopelitis – Fairlight drums
Grand Mixer DXT – turntables, sound effects
Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner – vocals

_____________

Released: May 17, 1988
Recorded: 1988
Studios: Garage Sale, Los Angeles; OAO Studios, Quad Studios, RPM Studios, New York
Length: 36:10
Label: Columbia
Producers: Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell