Lime Cordiale: Falling Up the Stairs

I made a special effort to check out these Sydneysiders in Melbourne at AWME in November. After all, they’d been touted as the newest prized addition to the Chugg Entertainment stable. And if Chuggy is prepared to put his proverbials on the line for an act, they’ve gotta be worth a listen. Since that successful southern showcase gig, there’s been a bit of a buzz around Lime Cordiale. They’ll head to SXSW in Texas next month alongside a US release for the EP.
The five tracks here give a pretty good indication of the band’s range, blending layered high energy pop/rock and surf ‘n’ sun harmonies with punch. Horn sections are enjoying a purple patch in local line-ups of late, and brass is one of the tastiest ingredients in Lime Cordiale. All songs are originals by frontline brothers Oli (guitar, baritone sax) and Louis (bass, trumpet) Leimbach who share vocal duties. The rest of the band comprises Tim Fitz (keys, guitar), Brendan Champion (trombone) and drummer James Jennings, though the Leimbachs have been known to adopt local musos in their place when on the road.
The EP was produced and mixed by Daniel Denholm (Washington, The Whitlams, Billy Thorpe, Midnight Oil) with mastering taken on in NYC. Opening track and single ‘Bullshit Aside’ is a catchy, pumping declaration. Along the way there’s fun with light and smoky jazz/rock and electrified soul. ‘Everything Else’ is my pick for best track, with retro-yet-fresh melodies, complex and unpredictable beats and a rapid-fire refrain.
The whole release suggests classically trained musical know-how and songwriting possibilities just starting to let fly.
Release: out now via MGM
Written by Chris Lambie