Live Review: Tinpan Orange, Leure

1 November 2012 | 9:58 am | Staff Writer

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The last time Tinpan Orange played the Fly By Night, lead singer and guitarist Emily Lubitz was glowingly pregnant. This time, she's telling stories about her one-and-a-bit-year-old son and discussing the pitfalls of parenthood, while husband Harry James Angus looks on from behind his keyboard. The three-piece becomes a five-piece on tour, with Angus and newly permanent drummer Danny Farrugia joining Lubitz, her brother Jesse Lubitz, and violin virtuoso Alex Burkoy on the stage. Before they took over, however, Leure warmed the audience to a gentle simmer with her delicate brand of eerie electro. Ash Hendriks of Wolves At The Door is the one behind the beats solo project, which is gaining shape and momentum after the August release of debut album Holland Sky. Her performance as support was beautiful and arresting, and a perfect start to what turned out to be an incredibly lovely evening.

The Fly By was appropriately grand and atmospheric, all low colourful lighting and decoration, and the audience was attentive and silent. It was primarily a seated gig for an older crowd – presumably the younger punters had attended The Bakery gig the night before. As a result, it was all eyes to the front by the time Tinpan Orange took the stage, as we hung on every lyric, every sweep of the instruments, and only made noise when it was our cue to applaud. Much of what Tinpan Orange played was from the band's new album Over The Sun, but there were a couple of covers: namely, Tom Waits' Way Down In The Hole and the theme from the Round The Twist TV show, which everyone who grew up in the '90s got very excited about.

Most of what kept our attention, though, was the musicianship; everyone involved being simply incredible musicians. Emily Lubitz has a wonderfully textured, smokey voice – very distinct and recognisable – and she dances with her hands. Alex Burkoy sometimes gets carried away on magnificent tangents while playing violin, while Jesse Lubitz plays his guitar like it's a living creature. It was pretty easy to become enthralled in a special night of music.