Now with a sound they can call theirs, the band have yielded an album that nods heavily in the direction of 2000s-era indie, while also evoking modern influences like Wet Leg, Sorry and Japanese House; culminating in an album that elevates the band’s sound to new heights.
In juxtaposition to the uncertainty explored by the lyrics, One More Thing puts musical simplicity at its core. The sparse rhythm section on “Love Song” and the grungy guitars on “Nepotism (baby)'' encapsulate the band’s deliberate approach; one that likely benefited from the limited studio time the band were afforded. The result is a sound that, while colourful, still retains an indie simplicity, giving it a sharp and to-the-point production that matches its forthright lyricism.
Tongue-in-cheek references to their not-quite-so-exciting daily lives litter the record. “I don’t wanna work my job, ‘cause life is fleeting and I’m a pop star” sings lead singer Chloe Howard on the groaning “Pop Star”, laying bare the frustrations struggling artists face. Likewise, the candid “Fears” sees Howard staring down her insecurities: “I fear the feeling of failure, I fear the thought of some success” she sings, outing the uncertainty felt by the band as they look to the future.
The short indie blasts make way for pensiveness in the album’s latter stages. “Pine”, a track that transcends the album's simplistic approach, provides One More Thing with one of its more tender moments as it sees Howard pausing for thought amongst melodic guitars and wistful vocals. Likewise, “It” searches for meaning against a backdrop of floaty arpeggios and dull drums, flirting with a sound unexplored by the band previously.
One More Thing, though dominated by themes of self-doubt and trepidation, succeeds in taking Lime Garden to new territory. It provides their sound with the foundations of something great, and if the band are looking for a platform to build on, this could well be it.
