[.ca] Trickle

From Amazon.com:
As electronic music has been swallowed and spit back out by conventional pop, rock, and rap artists since the 1990s, the distinctions between what is techno and what is just studio-tweaked amplified guitar rock has noticeably blurred. While not as adventurous in those explorations of trip-hop and electronic music as contemporaries like Everything but the Girl or Sneaker Pimps, Olive nevertheless display a marvelous agility integrating a conventionally charming pop-rock sense with a more modern sound. With their hearts fully planted in verse-chorus-verse formats and big, hummable choruses, they still manage to twist their songs around deep, pulsing bass lines and rhythmically motivated transitions. The result is daringly melodic and accessible, yet every time the songs threaten to become too straight for their own good, bursts of electronica around the edges spice up the mix once again. Take the first song on the record, the blissed-out "Love Affair." Rhythmic depth in the chorus accentuates a simple chorus just enough, providing the spring that catapults the melody's hook into your brain. Light drum & bass colors "I'm Not in Love," a straightforward pop song save for the herky-jerky cadences and swirling keyboards that make it sound suddenly transcendent. Detractors could see Olive's music as a dumbed-down trip-hop for the masses, more "trip-pop" than Tricky. Still, when it's done with this much panache, regardless of whether it's a move forward or a move back, it's undeniably a lovely ride. --Matthew Cooke

A different kind of love:
Yes, this is different then Olive's first album, Extra Virgin. Do I love it any less? Do I love it any more? No. I simply love it differently. While Extra Virgin was very much rooted in eccletic drum-n-bass beats, Trickle is more of a pop trip-hop affair .... one, i might add, composed beautifully. Ruth Ann's voice, once again, is deliciously palpable; I can think of few vocals as lucious and sweet as hers. The melodies in Trickle are more agreeable to airplay. Some may regard the new sound as more commercialized, but I humbly suggest these people are missing the finer points of this album. This is a marginally more up-beat album, and Olive makes no apologies for shedding some (note: not all) of the darker melodies of Extra Virgin. Their emotive expression has been perfectly preserved in slightly altered form; the lyrics of Trickle are more articulate, Ruth Ann's voice more refined, arrangements more calculated. The bottom line is the beauty of Olive's first child is not lost on me with their new creation. Different? Without question (although not to the degree some reviewers here have expressed or implied). But Trickle must still be regarded as a beautiful album .... one that may likely appeal to a bigger audience then did Extra Virgin. Nothing wrong with that.

smoky bar charming:
One of the best CD's I have ever heard, not because it is anything invetive...but because it is simply amazing to listen to. Ruth-Ann's vocals are sublime, soft and strong, they make you envision a woman you could fall in love with. The backgrounds are very danceable but equally suited for sitting and sinking into a trance...if you love it (which you should) check out Everything but the Girl

Just as Good as The First:
I was a little worried about purchasing this album at first because I know artists now-a-days tend to followup successful first albums with \ojunk\c. But I had a good feeling about "Trickle." I'm glad I bought it, because it's just as good as the first album. I love the sultry sounds they brought into the album, like "Indulge Me" and "Smile." It's a really enjoyable album that varies with its pulsing beats and sweet sounds.

It's a different band.:
I always thought Extra Virgin was very unique and it really captured my attention on every song. It's hard to explain, but in essence it was a beautiful masterpiece. Trickle is not that great when you compare it to Extra Virgin, but it is catchy. It seems like they really didn't explore sound possibilites on this one and instead tried to play it safe by not going out on a limb. All I can say is....listen to Extra Virgin and then to Trickle, you'd think it was a different band all together except for the voice.

"I would have definitley done this differently":
It is obvious that this band really doesn't have what it takes outside of there Drum N Bass attempts/collaborations. This isn't a Trip Hop album this is a POP album that is extremeley boring. There are no stand out beats with the exception of "Love Affair and The Single" Which I forgot the name of! This is the most middle of the road lack of soul or creative effort I have ever heard! This guy obviously doesn't listen to alot of different types of music. If I had to guess his cd collection consist odf mostly techno and rock/country music. Most Trip Hoppers offer a variety of influences in there music. This sounds like the Natalie Imbruglia of Trip Hop! This is O.K, but I would have done it differently, everything with the exception of the two tracks I mentioned would have been the first to go! And I just would have started over again and worked with some other people! Run from this, unless you like bland Pop, this album is the biggest Turkey in Trip Hop next to Morcheeba's generic latest attempts! Try Airlock-drystarr Mandalay-Empathy and Solace Lamb - What Sound Mono-Formica blues

• Love Affair
• Trickle
• I'm Not In Love
• Smile
• All You Ever Needed
• Indulge Me
• Speak To Me
• Liberty
• Push
• Trust You
• Creature Of Comfort
• Beyond The Fray