Lo-Flo Records presents Songs from the Vault: Reel #6 – The Breaks by prolific composer Jane McNealy. Featuring two tracks—“Play It” and “As It Lays,”—the EP. Both tracks, unearthed from McNealy’s extensive archive, hearken back to the 1980s.
Originally written in 1989, Songs from the Vault: Reel #6 – The Breaks offers a fascinating glimpse into this time period of Jane McNealy’s decades-long and varied music career. The EP opens with “Play It,” an uptempo quasi hip-hop track. Utilizing new software, synthesizer, and sampler technology, this instrumental track is propelled by a heavy breakbeat that is reminiscent of Herbie Hancock’s ‘80s output, infusing jazz and funk, with the burgeoning hip-hop sounds of the time. “Play It” conjures up imagery of b-boys breaking in the streets of New York, or a gallery opening frequented by Warhol and Basquiat.
The second track, “As It Lays,” is a more laid back affair, but still retains the vibe of ‘80’s urban life. McNealy’s score for the piano and bass lines are brought to the fore, conjuring up imagery of lazy afternoons, roller skating in Central Park. McNealy elaborates further, “I wrote these songs using software operating in DOS. That’s how long ago it was! DOS was Microsoft’s operating system, before Apple became the standard bearer with Mac. Everything was done by code at that time. I worked for three days and nights learning the software. I also used an Oberheim drum machine for the rhythm parts.”
