Village Life

Released in 1985 on Columbia, Village Life represents one of Herbie Hancock's most daring sonic departures. Coming off the massive commercial success of 'Rockit' and the Future Shock album, Hancock pivoted away from urban electro-funk toward a collaboration with Gambian griot Foday Musa Suso. The album was recorded in a single day at a studio in Tokyo, utilizing the then-new Yamaha DX7 synthesizer and a drum machine, but played live without sequencing to maintain a natural, 'village' feel. The tracks are long and improvisational, particularly the side-long 'Kanatente'. Critically, the album was a polarizing release, as it lacked the dancefloor appeal of his recent hits and the traditional structure of his jazz work. However, it has since been reclaimed as a pioneering work of 'Fourth World' music, sitting alongside the experiments of Jon Hassell and Brian Eno. It remains a testament to Hancock's refusal to be pigeonholed, using cutting-edge digital tools to explore ancient musical traditions.