"It’s a long way to come, I tell you," Jason Swinscoe, the leader of the London-based collective, tells the crowd. "But worth it!"

The eight musicians, including the sublime voice of Heidi Vogel, then soar through 'As The Stars Fall', from the group’s breakthrough album "Ma Fleur".

It is a taut set, punctuated by searing sax breaks from Tom Chant, looking every inch the part in a white fedora. There are no visual fireworks, no on-stage gymnastics and very little dialogue with the audience; just a bunch of dexterous musicians gelling magically as they peruse their catalogue of imaginary movie soundtracks. As such, 2003’s 'Man With A Movie Camera' is plundered, most notably on set closer 'Evolution'.

After the obligatory fake departure, acoustic guitarist Grey Reverend returns to the stage for a beautiful, sparse, unadorned version of 'To Build A Home', which crescendos joyously as his bandmates reappear for a bombastic finale.

One audience-related gripe here – why, oh, why do people feel the need to stream out of the theatre before the house lights go up? Surely there’s no burning need to beat the Monday night traffic in Adelaide’s west end? Put it this way: the set appears to have finished half an hour ahead of schedule and the band haven’t yet played their biggest hit… um, do you think there might be an encore on the cards??

Nonetheless, for those who stayed to witness it, the Cinematic Orchestra’s lone Adelaide show was a musical event of rare beauty.