Publication: Machina [?]
Date: July/August 1996
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Title: Machina Review
Reviewed By: Antoni Piekut

[Translated By: Agnieszka Rzepecka]

What a craziness with this name: The Artist Formerly Known as Prince. There is all around the information about the huge output of Prince’s creations, three obligatory albums 4 Warners R ready just in order 2 fulfill the contract and 2 move 2 another company, 4 which the fourth album is also ready. Almost makes us 2 comment that there R no miracles and our hero is loosening his grip, that the price paid 4 this shift may B too high, as the public will notice the change from quality into quantity, etc., etc. Maybe it may B true a little, but 1) we know only the first, discussed here, album; 2) listening 2 it is superb.

It’s true that the album is different than the previous ones. Prince seems 2 address this 2 a more white, pop-rock oriented audience. Actually I have always wanted him 2 record an album with tracks like Peach 4 this rock energy takes your breath away, knocking out on the way all the white boys playing in basements and garages and all the celebrated oldies of hard rock. Unfortunately Chaos & Disorder isn’t that good, though the title song gives hopes as the next one I Like It There sounds in the style of the late 60’s. With the next songs we remain in this style (Dinner With Delores - late Beatles, Same December - similar, with a blues chorus). After four tracks relying on classic rock and all of them played superbly, next song Right the Wrong with funny horns and blues of Zanalee don’t surprise anymore. They don’t leave any doubt that it’s all about a showing-off mixture, about the manifestation that U can still play this guitar (the 60’s/70’s) music changing slightly its sound. It’s not a ----carbon copy of those times at all - this is Prince signing, rocking on the guitar, from time 2 time there is a low voice from a Blackman in the background, also some Princely little keyboard stress. On the seventh track some soulful voices and a rapper. An obvious mistake: cheesy pop Into the Light. Unmissible, as on every Prince record, a restaurant-bedroom track I Will, in which Prince-guitarist imitates successfully Santana. The Artist strolls loosingly in the legendary 4 today’s music times, dealing with a few matters on the way: renews the contact with older listeners, shows everybody what he can do and releases the album, which is not only necessary within his contract, but also will sell not badly. (rating: 3.5 out of 5)