Flying Like a Butterfly, Stinging Like a Bee

What's colourful, geometric, and glowing all over? That would be the butterfly I imagine flying through a dreamy landscape of mystery and peril when I listen to this Herbie Hancock track. My interpretation, of course, can differ from yours. In either case this song, and entire album, is worth a listen.

Unlike the loosely knit, psychadelic jazz "Sextant" released in 1972 this album and its predecessor is much more on the groove based side of things. This is in part due to the change up of Herbie's band. His last album with the Mwandishi-era group was doing poor in sales so there was pressure to start working with Head Hunters and make more commercial music. He released the self titled Head Hunters album featuring "chameleon" in 1973 and then this album in '74.

This is around what I would call his "golden years" (everyone has golden years for they're favourite artists). It's the perfect blend of dancible grooves and bluezy/experimental jazz and I've yet to really find any other bands that do both so well. The songs, while sounding pretty gritty funky sometimes, also include well made arrangements. Miles Davis did well picking up young Hancock out of music school.

What do you imagine when you listen?