UKs heart throbs from Brighton create a massive wave from the previous ripple to give us an album that adds to their fire. It’s recovery, positivity and therapy all rolled into the realest music you’ll hear in quite some time.
Lime Garden is the kind of band you want to see succeed. This is a bunch of friends working hard with other ventures to make sure their passion takes off. From beginning their journey as Facebook friends in 2017 (no, they’re not old people) and jamming to Arctic Monkeys, their inspiration and style have given birth to a new sound that has been adored by people. One of the only up-and-coming artists to sell out Prince Albert in Brighton 6 months before the show, they return after 2024’s One More Thing to something that expands their catalogue of sound quite a bit. This is called Maybe Not Tonight.
Humble, great beginnings
These four women have probably the greatest source of material for music. Themselves. Chloe, Annabel, Leila and Tippi encourage each other to write and play about whatever comes naturally to them. That’s why you see such a healthy mix of songs that recreate life-as-they-know-it as a whole. Every Tuesday would be maintained as ‘band day’; they would get together to jam and play music no matter what. Their blend of alt rock, disco, electro pop and the alt movement has resulted in a sound that is refreshing, a definitive reason why they’re able to grasp the wavering minds of their young audience. These are the things that people think about today.
23 has that deep groove and raw sound, which is magnetic to listen to. There’s no doubt that this catchy essence has not just the mainstream pop appeal but also keeps a sound that you’d want to keep returning to. Chloe’s voice and vocals sing this from experience, a style of writing that seems to be disappearing. Cross My Heart has that disco-funk groove, where promises seem to evolve to become completely something else. Lime Garden are coming together for this album after a self-proclaimed “mass breakup”, adding to their messy wonk-pop sound. Each song adds a certain degree of personal experience, a brilliant mix of glitter, liquor, wrong decisions and the fun of growing up together.
From the Brighton Scene
The Brighton scene is something of a marvel. It births incredible music collectives that can stay in the place for the opportunities and vibe, while survival is a conversation with compromise. It isn’t extremely expensive, and perhaps everyone there either likes to support art or be a part of making it. This appreciation is evident; you can see any band from Brighton always identify themselves from the same place. The Hope & Ruin and Green Door Store have become performance spaces that have harnessed the potential of so many bands. Tippi from Lime Garden worked in the scenes behind Green Door Store. Imagine being embedded so deeply in the music culture of the place; it must have a great impact on the art you make.
So when you press play on All Bad Parts, don’t be surprised to hear that signature strong sound the place gives. This is completely electroclash, embracing a certain kind of chaos while giving that spicy kick the monotony of electronic music. Leading with the bass part, the synth lead builds up to a charge that will turn your living room into a dance floor. The vocal line becomes familiar from the moment it is sung, and the lyrics will tattoo themselves on your brain. No wonder this song became one of the most popular singles released by the band; the energy is infectious. The chorus is something where you feel like an instant magnet, all the harmonies coming together. You can hear the Talking Heads’ influence come in, along with beats and a background inspired by The Strokes.
Healing through these grooves
Maybe Not Tonight leaves in that after-party vibe while being a disco ball effect. It’s great to see a band be self-reflecting through their music – this might be a song of either ‘yes’ or ‘no’, and the next becomes a softer anthem of body positivity and deep thought. It is quite an emotional journey through a woman’s mental state that Lime Garden take you through and their respective perspectives. If they’re vulnerable about insecurities, they know how to neutralise them with appreciation. The listening parties the band are having for this album right now might be such a cathartic perspective for fans. So Young Records has done an incredible job of retaining the band’s sound. Mounting on the quality of One More Thing, Maybe Not Tonight remains messy and chaotic lyrically, mirroring the band’s state of mind.
Undressed keeps that beautiful vulnerable perspective continued, creating an experience that is genuine and energetic. This is what making music your life’s pivot can do for you; it is chasing passion together and developing a sound that appreciates contemporaries yet slowly finds its way above the ground. The most important part of the underground movement is how it rises up, and Lime Garden ensures its authentic sound is not compromised by production, the label, or any other external factor. Even including mass breakups within the band. Some would say that aided the performance here.
Unpacking the chaos
I’ve personally never had the misfortune of experiencing modern dating through apps. The way Chloe Howard writes the lyrics to this one is exactly how people might be feeling. Break the ice by being a jester. Show all the greatest parts of yourself to avoid being misconstrued as a red flag. In crafting this musical journey, she captures the whimsy of it while also being able to touch upon how this will keep devolving as an experience for people. Always Talking About You displays sharp lyricism, the calamity of it all, all while reflecting levity – the only way our generation knows how to resolve/deal with things.
Closing with Do You Know What I’m Thinking establishes that we clearly don’t. The 4 piece band is on their way to a certain degree of greatness, being titled “perhaps the best band in the UK right now” by several critics. They are out on their new journey; they don’t care about being judged for they do it themselves, create an authentic aura of self-love, understanding and navigating a world that doesn’t seem to forgive. They might lose it completely, but maybe not tonight:
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