Lime Cordiale & SSO

But these 30-something guys write music so melodious, soaring and colourful, it’s a natural fit for an orchestra, especially with an arranger like the young composer Alex Turley.

Lime Cordiale is touring Australia as their songs are taken on by the state orchestras in Tasmania, Melbourne, Sydney, Queensland and WA. Vanessa Scammell is the conductor for all; already with a reputation for energetic concerts of contemporary popular music whether film scores, musical theatre or operas.

The brother’s musical flexibility is also obviously well-served by their classical background. Both trained at the Conservatorium, on instruments here enriching their guitar work, with Oli on clarinet and Louis masterful on trumpet (and leading the orchestra blowing kazoos!). The orchestral score also features fine short solos from trombone, violin and then harp.

Oli does the talking, layback and unaffected. He’s also candid, talking of their father’s recent death, sadly before he could make it to this concert and hear the touching song dedicated to him, You’ll always be a Household Name. Louis, two years younger, is more the rock star, ribald, restless and eccentric, with a touch of Michael Hutchence. He’s an impressive singer with a high range, unpredictable endings and songs punctuated by unexpected sounds.

There’s nothing poppy about Lime Cordiale’s often humorous or heartfelt lyrics, no chorus or chords endlessly repeated. What is poppy is that these ballad-rich songs are so slurred the words are incomprehensible.

But there’s still the treat of going off in that concert hall, so colourfully and dynamically lit including up high into the folds and heights of that famous ceiling.

Martin Portus

Photographer: Jordan Munns