O'2L's self-titled debut album is a collaboration between pianist/keyboardist/sound designer, Jane Mangini and guitarist Al Pitrelli. The 13 tunes on this collection were composed and arranged by Jane, with Al, adding textures and an array of guitar rhythms, riffs and leads. Together they have fashioned a distinctive techno-acoustic style with high energy.

The music of O’2L teems with samples, grooves with soul-jazz funk, speeds with fast beats and chills with atmospheric lyricism. The scope of the sonic diversity ranges from the upbeat, supersonic opening track "NYC/Dublin/NYC" to the charged then tender "Stolen Beat Box" to the sober piano melody "Something’s Missing."

With the exception of a few musical guests (vocalists on two songs, a bassist on two and a trombonist on one), all the instrumentation on the CD is by Mangini and Pitrelli, who also co-produce. The O’2L journey begins with "NYC/Dublin/NYC," highlighted by a clipping beat, vocal snippets from a flight attendant, a peaceful piano-and-strings interlude, bagpipe samples, Mangini’s fleet-fingered single-note piano runs and Pitrelli’s sharp-edged guitar solo. "That’s an example of experimenting with sounds and arrangements," says Mangini. "It’s about the weekend trips that I take sometimes with my friend whose family lives in Dublin."

The funk-inflected "Shopping for Camels" features soul-jazz organ grooves, an acoustic piano excursion, an acoustic classical guitar break and hand-clap rhythms reminiscent of Miles Davis’ circa-1970 funk fusion. The origin of the tune? An "Arabian music" patch on Mangini’s Roland 1080 keyboard. The ballad "Fingerprints" is the only tune on the CD based on a commercial Mangini worked on, but she hastens to note that Pitrelli’s contribution takes it to a whole new level.

Some tunes, such as the quiet and textured "Lullabye," the straight-ahead "Cecily" and the moody "Stories," started out as piano pieces. Others, like the lyrical "Crystal Stair" and "Stormy Monday," developed from Mangini’s improvisational sketches. The funky, organ-driven "Aunt Jane," spiced by trumpet samples and Pitrelli’s blazing electric guitar, includes Jane’s aunt’s voice on her message machine. "If I like a sound, I’ll throw anything into the mix," says Mangini.

Other live-wire, high-energy tunes include the phat funk "Dream River" with trippy samples, acoustic guitar strums, electric guitar stings and a sparkling piano solo and "Somebody Dance with Lotti" with time and texture changes fueled by a hot dance groove.

It all adds up to a heady brew. Mangini notes that there are pockets of ambience throughout the CD, but jokes, "O’2L is way more heavy-handed than new age."

Reviews

Cosmik.com

Splendid Magazine.com

All Music.com

Listener Comments

BUY IT!, May 13, 2007
By Thomas W. Cheek (Louisville, Ky)

This CD is WELL worth buying; I haven't taken it out of my CD player since receiving it. It's amazing how well the guitars mesh with the keys add powerful drums and bass lines.

Good, but not like their debut.,

November 6, 2004
By Dio (central California)

Despite Al Pitrelli's long tenure in a second rate hair metal band, some fans of which are regularly able to divine minute details about the band members to a level bordering on ravenous obsession, I didn't hear about this experiment until I spoke with a high school classmate of Al's. That's pretty far underground, if you ask me, so it was with massive surprise that I found myself watching The Real World on MTV when I heard O'2l used in the soundtrack (they still use it regularly).

Anyhow, that little story is only vaguely related to the music. The ex-classmate that I mentioned above was hyping this group before the debut was even released, though I was highly skeptical because I strongly disliked what Savatage (the band Al was in through the mid 90s before his stint in Megadeth) was doing at the time. Needless to say, I liked O'2l a lot more, or else I wouldn't be typing this.

Jane is an excellent pianist, one of my favorites. Al plays with a freshness and variety he didn't (or wasn't allowed to) explore in a hard rock band. O'2l blend delicate melodies with upbeat funk and jazz, often spread over the top of an addictively catchy electronic beat. O'2l are on a mission to show that any kind of sound can me melded into music, and I think they succeed more completely than the great majority of groups who experiment with sound.

However, I must point out that the album with the cover of squares (both albums are named identically) is inferior to their debut album. The second album is excellent in relation to other groups, no doubt, but it's also a rehash of the debut. There are songs taken directly from it, and others reworked/remixed, with just a handful of new material. The new material was not as good as the old material that was left behind, so I really only listen to the first album. Unfortunately, the first album is in even more limited supply than the second (I was actually able to find the second in a store in San Francisco). So I suppose my recommendation is that if you can get a hold of the first album, do so, otherwise, this album is a nearly worthy substitute. Even if you do buy this album, I would still seek their debut anyway despite the similarities.

Boundary Bending Electronica that Grooves!!!,

August 5, 2003
By David Cambert "sagedrummer" (Santa Cruz, CA)

I thought this album was great in its ability to use acoustic instruments such as guitar and piano and blend them so well with some really funky and upbeat electronic beats. NYC/Dublin/NYC, Stolen Beat Box, and Somebody Dance with Lotti are my favorites as they are the most upbeat. The rest of the CD is mostly piano music, beautiful in its simplicity and power to move. I have never come across a CD with such varied genres that still retains a common thread that hold the tracks together. I would definitely recommend this to any music lover. Fans of electronica, piano, and even new age will enjoy this greatly.

Liked it,

July 11, 2003
By A Customer

What is most impressive about this album is the way the direction subtly, yet intentionally, changes throughout. With very little vocals, other than those sampled to give an almost percussive effect, the individual songs rely completely upon the melody created (primarily piano and keyboards balanced by occasional guitar and horns), the beats laid down and the mood implied. While these songs can be appreciated on their own, it is within the context of the album that their strength becomes apparent. "Cecily" in particular gives life to the album. This is an album that deserves to be listened to. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
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Comment

"Experience the genius ~ Jane Mangini",

June 24, 2003
By J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA)

The opening track "NYC/DUBLIN/NYC", will knock your sox off ~ mixed sounds of New York City and a blend of the Celtic. All songs are composed and arranged by Jane Mangini, with Al Pitrelli and Jane performing with a style that is simply intriguing with brilliance thrown in. The marriage of genres is so original ~ from New Age, Jazz, International and alternative rock, very smooth and enjoyable beyond belief.

Must make mention of "AUNT JANE", features the funky blues side of this group, the fingering on the ivories by Jane is unbelievable, just when you think you've heard it all a heavy metal guitar solo surfaces and in comes Jane again answering the beckon call. Another highlight is "DREAM RIVER", once again the guitar blending with percussion and enters our heroine Jane Magnini, nice touch with a distant trumpet. Get ready as "SOMEBODY DANCE WITH LOTTI", make room for some ragtime, Latin jazz, funk, hip-hop, down and dirty performance by the artists extraordinaire.

Hats off to Peak, Concord Records and all who brought this album to the forefront. If you're not a fan after listening to this CD, then folks you'd better hang it up...it doesn't get any better than this ~ gotta love it!

Soothing and Refreshing,

June 12, 2003
By "sangie0525" (Delray Beach, FL)

This CD is unique and original as it's artist. I've followed Jane's career over the years and I am delighted with this latest release.
The arrangement offers the best quality in surround sound mixing and Jane's delicate fingers seems to effortlessly glide and caress the ivories...sensually manipulating every note as though they danced in the air ....cajoling the listener away in flights of fancy and carefree melodies...

A classic in it's own time!