finetune artist: Olive

A studio-bound project inaugurated in 1995 by Tim Kellet, Robin Taylor-Firth and singer Ruth-Ann Boyle. Kellet had formerly been a member of the horn group, Rebop, while at music college in Manchester, England. He subsequently joined Vini Reilly's Durutti Column, before 10 years spent as a sideman for Simply Red. He finally left that band after their hugely successful Stars tour, retreating to a purpose-built home studio he had financed in Derbyshire. The first result of his self-employment was a successful co-production venture with the Lighthouse Family. Taylor-Firth had previously worked in the Sheffield area with underground legends Nightmares On Wax, playing and co-writing their 1995 album. Via a mutual friend he made the acquaintance of Kellet, and the two agreed to work together on a collaborative project. The final piece of the jigsaw was completed by Boyle, a Sunderland native who had sung with many underground bands in that city and contributed a sample of her voice to Vini Reilly's 1996 project. Kellet discovered her by accident, playing a keyboard sample while in Reilly's company, and enquiring as to the origin of the voice. One hastily convened meeting later, Boyle had become the third and final member. They made their debut in 1996 with the single "You're Not Alone". The music was eerily similar to the trip-hop stylings of Portishead, but Boyle's haunting vibrato helped give the track some character. A reissue of the track finally gave the trio their UK breakthrough, topping the singles chart in May 1997. The failure of the follow-up singles "Outlaw" and "Miracle" to match the success of "You're Not Alone" prompted the band's record label to unceremoniously drop them, however, and they were reduced to a duo when Taylor-Firth left shortly afterwards. Boyle and Kellett subsequently signed a new deal with Maverick Records. Trickle gained exposure when one of its tracks, a cover version of 10cc's "I'm Not In Love", was featured on the soundtrack to The Next Best Thing.

Listen to Olive at Finetune.

(2000) Trickle
(1997) Extra Virgin

You're Not Alone
I'm Not In Love
Miracle
You're Not Alone (Mathew Robert's Cloud 10 Mix)
Curious