I didn't know the band Lime Garden until a few weeks back. I heard the Seinfeld-esque bassline of "All Bad Parts" and it made me stop and go "This is funky, this is fun ... who is this?"
It took me a few minutes to locate my phone to figure out who it was, and — spoiler alert — it was Lime Garden.
Lime Garden is the latest self-described "wonk pop" (whatever exactly that means) group making some waves from Brighton, UK. Brighton has been home to a bit of a new music scene the last few years, with groups like Lambrini Girls, Porridge Radio and Black Honey — all of which have been tagged as bands to watch hailing from the city. Now Lime Garden can be added to that list.
Their new album, Maybe Not Tonight, is a bold, hook‑stacked indie‑pop record. For anyone looking for Wet Leg vibes combined with a more rock-leaning Charli XCX, look no further. Packed with sharp guitars, dance‑ready grooves and the band’s off‑kilter charm, Maybe Not Tonight is Lime Garden’s evolution from another buzzy Brighton band to an act that demands your ears' attention.
Overall, Maybe Not Tonight is a fun record, and that itself makes it easy to love. Album opener "23" is a bass heavy, vocoder club jam, but with punk rock guitars. "Cross My Heart" channels the aforementioned Wet Leg but never comes off like a copy. And let me make that clear, Lime Garden is 100% their own band. They sound very confident in themselves on the entirety of this record.
With the track "Body," the band goes from party vibes to serious subject matter. The track hints at body dysmorphia and unrequited love. This was one of my personal favorites on the album. Lime Garden does a very good job of tackling depressing subject matter, yet still crafting a song that rocks. This is a therapeutic song for lead singer Chloe Howard. I bet that while you listen to it you're going to go through a therapy session as well.
Hot on the heels of "Body" is "Lifestyle." This is almost like a part two of "Body." It continues the theme of longing but goes a little darker, with Howard viewing an individual with the lines "She's got the lifestyle, that I think I want / she's got the lifestyle, I've been dreaming of."
It's could be stalker-esque with those lyrics! However, the song goes on to reveal that a relationship blossoms between these two characters and the main character no longer cares for what they thought they wanted so badly. Heavy stuff.
Being the sophomore album from Lime Garden, Maybe Not Tonight achieves everything you would hope a good second album would do. It supplies a more polished sound and assuredness that has star-making material. I'm looking forward to what comes next!
