ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: triple j, JULY 2020
The last decade has been a slow-burn success story for Lime Cordiale.
From their humble beginnings as a Northern Beaches surf rock band to the large-scale pop-rock that’s earned the duo massive praise in recent years, brothers Oli and Louis Leimbach have been on quite the musical journey.
The release of their new album 14 Steps To A Better You comes three years on from their long-awaited debut, Permanent Vacation. A debut album that mixed their beachy roots with irresistible melodies and slick production, Permanent Vacation proved to be a strong representation of the dynamic partnership between the brothers.
With 14 Steps To A Better You, we hear not just the bolstering of their partnership as musicians but a defining musical statement. It’s Lime Cordiale, summarised in 14 tracks. It incorporates the spirit of fun that’s driven the Leimbachs’ work to date, but sees them develop their songwriting in depth and nuance. Oli and Louis have always been self-aware when it comes to their lyricism - but here they’ve taken it up an extra notch.
Having spent much of the interim between their two records abroad, churning out joyous live show after joyous live show, regrouping back on home soil - with Permanent Vacation producer Dave Hammer - adds an extra level of depth to the final result.
Sonically, the album maintains the laid-back nature that we know and expect from Lime Cordiale. It is easy to get lost in the freewheeling, carefree elements of the band’s pop arrangements; the skanked out vibes of ‘Screw Loose’ to the playful ‘No Plans To Make Plans’ landing as two great examples of the caution-to-the-wind vibe this album excels at.
14 Steps… doesn’t depict Lime Cordiale as perennial sunshine kids, though. The album works its way through a myriad of emotions: angst, heartbreak, lamentation and self-criticism rear their heads amongst each breezy melody and uplifting build.
“We just felt like we were quite opinionated throughout the whole album and it just turned into this weird self-help guide,” they explained to triple j back in April.
‘No Plans To Make Plans’, a song about selfishness and losing one’s way, is still delivered with tongues firmly planted in cheeks.
“It’s about someone with a lot of power who’s not really using their power for good, whether it’s a politician or an influencer,” Lime Cordiale told Richard Kingsmill.
“When people are looking up to you, you should really be giving off a good message and be a good role model. It’s about someone who has lost their way, taken the wrong route or just lost perspective.”
Romanticism and reflection enter as significant players on 14 Steps…, as the second half of the album explores heartbreak, longing and relatability. Across ‘Dear London’, ‘Dirt Cheap’ and ‘Following Fools’, Lime Cordiale let the more chaotic pop sounds take a back seat as they explore more wistful swooning territory.
“Dear London I love you/But please don’t think it’s you I blame /It’s not even the weather /Wherever I go it seems to rain”
It’s these moments of heartfelt introspection that have made Lime Cordiale so endearing to many over the years.
Though it’s been inspired by the self-help book model, 14 Steps To A Better You is really a manifesto of how Lime Cordiale’s general approach to music and connecting with people has strengthened and developed over the last three years.
Each contribution to this album is strong on its own: the complexities wrapped up in dense instrumentation, soulful vocal rumblings and commanding horn fills all come together to make a gorgeously well-rounded fuller picture.
The album further asserts Lime Cordiale as strong champions of a broad musical spectrum that can be played with, broken down and reassembled and much more than that, it’s bloody fun.
Achieving a balance between the knockout banger and slow-burning nostalgia, Lime Cordiale have provided an album that remains accessible and a joy to get wrapped up in. And right now, that’s the type of music we need.