I can't say that I had ever listened to any Herbie Hancock albums before this one. But I still find it remarkable that a) a jazz musician in his mid-40s who had been recording for 20 years released an album this modern and fresh and b) he got an MTV hit in the process. I had seen the video for "Rockit" on some greatest video countdown show, which is why I knew a little bit about Hancock's background, and how odd it was to see his music on MTV. Although its synthesizer riff is indeed mighty catchy, the clattering rhythms and turntables would make it an impossible hit if it wasn't the era where music videos were still novel. After all, this is a seasoned jazz musician making futuristic electronic music that blends in elements of jazz, R&B and industrial and is largely instrumental to boot.
I don't know how many MTV viewers then went on to buy Future Shock, but I would like to imagine that the slurred, dreamy title track and the spacey, shrieking Moog sounds of "Earth Beat" would have come as quite a shock indeed. As for me, my one listen to this record left me very impressed. The heavy use of electronics and focus on rhythm over melody no doubt would make this cold and largely inaccessible music for some. But on nearly every track, Hancock conjures a certain drugged, outer space ambience. It doesn't hurt that nearly ever song has a simple, but effective hook that ties the listener to Earth. I was particularly fascinated by the title track, which is basically an 8 minute dance song that no one would ever dance to. The production intentionally muddles the feminine-sounding vocals (sung by a man) into a gruff bass-driven rhythm, while the singer sings the same hook over and over again, before silencing for several minutes of frantic guitar soloing. Overall, an easy keeper, and perhaps an underrated album as well.
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