Herbie Hancock is one of the more convincing chameleons (pun intended) in jazz history.

After writing indelible standards like “Maiden Voyage” and “Watermelon Man,” pioneering fusion alongside Miles Davis, and leading the far-out, futuro-Afro fusion band Mwandishi, Herbie easily could have rested on his laurels and still been heralded as a legend.

But resting isn’t exactly one of Herbie’s strong suits. And in the mid-eighties, he continued to look forward. Sound-System, his second album with the Rockit band, finds him setting aside horns, pianos, and tune itself in favor of drum machines, turntables, and samplers and exploring hip hop, funk, and electro.

This isn’t exactly a casual listening. The songs are often abrasive and cluttered. At times, it feels like a parody of 80s training montages—especially the two opening tracks “Hardrock” and “Metal Beat.” Drum machines are stacked on top of eachother, clanging and pounding with ceaseless, artificial glee. Turntable scratches and sampled orchestral hits fight with eachother. Occasionally, a fat synth lead breaks through, the turns of the mod wheel giving the only hint of human involvement.

But for all its tunelessness and artifice, two tracks are proper songs. The Wayne Shorter featuring “Karabali” grooves on African style percussion and vocals, and even finds Hancock on an acoustic piano. “People Are Changing” is a relatively faithful cover of a Timmy Thomas tune, featuring far less electro-fication than they could have done.

In the greater context of Herbie’s career, this isn’t entirely notable. But when you’re dealing with a career like the great Chameleon, even the non-notable recordings are rewarding. And while this will never be my first choice in Herbie record (or second or even fifth), it’s a fine addition to my collection.