Lime Garden - One More Thing (2024)

In a climate where female-fronted pop and rock music is going through a real purple patch, Lime Garden's debut album One More Thing provides assurance that the future of the genre is looking as strong as ever. The Brighton-based outfit deliver concise indie rock tunes which blend a familiar '80s synth-supported post-punk sound. The 'upbeat rhythms matched with introspective lyrics' trope is far from a new one, but with guitarist/vocalist Chloe Howard providing catchy, dynamic melodies, it never sounds tired on this album. The sense of detachment on songs such as 'Fears' rings true to a generation that doesn't know its place in a rapidly-changing landscape. The lead single 'Love Song' feels like the statement piece of the album, especially being placed right up top as it is. A bass and synth-driven song with a meandering guitar part that returns sporadically to the bouncey riff refrain, it never seems to sit still for a moment. This isn't to say it lacks focus, as it somehow also never feels like it tries too hard. There's an impressive effortlessness to One More Thing, which is rare for a band releasing their debut album.

But the moment that grounds this album comes in the closing track 'Looking'. Here, all electronic supplement falls away and we're met with a tender acoustic number from Howard. In composition, it really is as simple as it gets. Verse-chorus-verse-chorus, (both verses containing the same lyrics at that) but its impact is undeniable. It's pretty, yet mournful. Introspective, yet pleading. Clearly it is about losing the connection between yourself and a loved one, but the lyrics stay vague enough for you to impress upon them your own experience. This doesn't necessarily have to be about a romantic love. It could reflect lamenting the slow grieving of a grandparent descending into senility, or a loved one's battle with terminal illness. Whatever the intention of this song was, it goes beyond this with graceful maturity.

What's notable about this album is the manner in which it flows; in a way that demands your attention. Too often in the streaming age, bands seem to have little regard for the flow of an album. Lime Garden clearly either understand the importance of this, or they recognise the need to keep it snappy in the social media age, where attention spans are arguably at an all time low. The album's ten songs make a tight 30 minute listen (no prizes for guessing the average song length here), and the pacing from track to track is prompt. The band do an admirable job of giving each song its own sound, whilst staying undeniably 'Lime Garden'.

Vocalist/guitarist Chloe Howard (photo credit: NME)

Perhaps one criticism you could level at One More Thing is that the songs aren't always memorable - these certainly aren't the kind of earworms you'll find yourself unable to get out of your head during the workday - but they serve their purpose well in delivering a distinct vibe. It won't wash over you in a forgettable kind of way, rather it leaves the door open for those who choose to return to it.

While on the pop scene, acts like Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish are paving the road of the current pop renaissance, it is refreshing to have underground female-fronted groups like Lime Garden emerging to give the rock landscape a refreshing new sound. In previous years, acts like Wet Leg and boygenius have burst onto the scene to breathe new life into the music scene of a post-pandemic world. Lime Garden may just be one to keep an eye on.

3.5/5