A year after its initial release, Olive's debut album, Extra Virgin, finally produced a number one British hit with "You're Not Alone," a low-key lite trip-hop number with a graceful melody. It's a strong single, and there are similarly strong moments on Extra Virgin, yet Olive don't stand out from the post-Portishead pack. Like Everything but the Girl, they are essentially a folky, pop-oriented group that uses the stoned rhythms of trip-hop as hip window-dressing. Since that rhythm is appealing on its own terms, it doesn't matter that Olive use it as ornamentation, especially since they use it well. What is a problem is their lack of consistent songwriting. Only a few songs match the singles "You're Not Alone" and "Miracle" in terms of memorable, melodic construction, and the weaker tracks tend to float by on their admittedly entrancing production. And that leaves Extra Virgin an intriguing debut, but not necessarily one that promises great things from Olive. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Mark Sheridan (Guitar), Louise Fuller (Violin), James McNicol (Assistant Engineer), Ruth-Ann Boyle (Vocals), John Metcalfe (Arranger), Tim Kellett (Trumpet), George Lambert (?), John Metcalfe (Viola), Tim Kellett (Producer), Tim Kellett (Flugelhorn), Omith Mukherjee (Guitar), Tim Kellett (Lyricist), Peter Chadwick (Design), Geoff Pesche (Mastering), Tim Kellett (Arranger), Peter Chadwick (Art Direction), Robin Taylor-Firth (Programming), Robin Taylor-Firth (Producer), Chris Harrison (Design), Henrik Linnermann (Flute), Adrian Hackett (Drums), Darren Campbell (Bass), Ivan McCready (Cello), Tim Kellett (Keyboards), Tim Kellett (Mixing), Chris Harrison (Art Direction), Julian Broad (Photography), Duke Quartet (Strings), Richard Koster (Violin), David F. Revill (Engineer), Robin Taylor-Firth (Keyboards), Tony Foster (Guitar), Tony Foster (Bass), Chris Harrison (?), Heitor Teixeira Pereira (Guitar), Robin Taylor-Firth (Arranger), Matthew Donaldson (Photography), Robin Taylor-Firth (Mixing), Mark Sheridan (Flute), George Lambert (Digital EQ), Leon Zervos (Mastering), Ruth-Ann (Vocals)
After the unfortunate demise of Blind Melon in 1995, its surviving members eventually went on to other projects. A couple members formed the Seattle-based Luma, while guitarist Rogers Stevens formed the New York City-based Extra Virgin, with local singer Rene Lopez. Introduced by a mutual friend in late-1997, the pair automatically hit it off. Lopez's previous band, The Authority, was a popular funk-rock band in the area, and Extra Virgin's sound is often a merger between both Stevens' and Lopez's former bands - laid back funk combined with alternating hard and meditative rock. Joined by other musicians, the new outfit issued an independently released, 12-track debut in 1999, entitled Twelve Stories High. Squirrel Nut Zippers/Blind Melon producer Mike Napolitano handled production duties, perfectly capturing the new band's exciting chemistry on album. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
Extra Virgin was the first (1996) release for British electronic trio Olive. This defined Olive's style, spawning three singles, "You're Not Alone" (which was rereleased twice), "Outlaw", and "Miracle". The trip-hop influence of Massive Attack and Portishead, while in small quantities, are evident, mixed in with synth-based electronic dance.
