Olive is a 'trip-hop' band with British female vocalist Ruth-Ann Boyle gliding her melodic voice over a wide variety of beats and loops. I would compare the sounds and arrangements on the same lines as Portishead, Morcheeba, and Sneaker Pimps. The mood of this album is one of love, comfort, and eligance which almost leaves you breathless listening to Ruth-Ann's angel like voice over trance type sounds. Most of the tracks on this album are of love found and lost. Others take you on a journey into your own soul and questions whether or not you are making the most of your life. My favorite track by far is track #6 entitled Falling. The song is very spacey and comforting and with Ruth-Ann's voice over the soothing sounds leaves one feeling relaxed. The track starts out hollow with Ruth-Ann singing and blends into a slow beat loop eventually fading into a combination of high-hat cymbols and drum loops. Some of the lyrics from the song Falling go as follows:
"Slower than the sun goes down. Softer than the autum rain. Surer than the earth is round. Gentle as the morning breeze. Warm enough to sleep and dream. There is no doubt in my mind. Im falling (in love). Im falling (in love). Leaves that are falling around me. Make sense to me. A reality. Leaves that are falling surround me. Make all this seem. A reality. Clearer than the morning light. Darker than the deepest night. There is no doubt in my mind. Im falling...."
Track Listing:
Credits:
Performers
Ruth-Ann Boyle : Vocals
Darren Campbell : Bass
Duke Quartet : Strings
Tony Foster : Bass, Guitar
Louise Fuller : Violin
Adrian Hackett : Drums
Tim Kellett : Flugelhorn, Keyboards, Trumpet
Richard Koster : Violin
George Lambert : Digital EQ
Henrik Linnermann : Flute
Ivan McCready : Cello
John Metcalfe : Viola
Omith Mukherjee : Guitar
Heitor Teixeira Pereira : Guitar
Ruth-Ann : Vocals
Mark Sheridan : Flute, Guitar
Robin Taylor-Firth : Keyboards
In closing, if you liked Sneaker Pimps you will really enjoy this album. Ruth-Ann has a beautiful voice and with the backing of the soothing and calming beats it really makes a great concoction. I recommend this album to anybody who is into female vocalists.
Comments to modify[at]attrition.org
If you like Olive you will enjoy these other fine artists:
Everything But The Girl
Temperamental
Amplified Heart
Walking Wounded
Acoustic
Idlewild
The Language of Life
Everything But the Girl
Love Not Money
Hooverphonic
Blue Wonder Power Milk
A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular
Sneaker Pimps
Becoming-X
Lamb
Lamb
Fear of Fours
Olive
Extra Virgin
Trickle
