★★★★☆

Pushing forward on the strength of an ever-lengthening track record of successful live shows, Brighton’s Lime Garden now faces the hurdle of the sophomore album, and they clear it with a record that feels more mature and more deliberate than its predecessor. 2024’s ‘One More Thing’ was above all playful pop-rock; 2026’s ‘Maybe Not Tonight’ leans more on guitars and a greater willingness to experiment, a slightly sharper edge tempered by a crisper production, and a little touch of the riot grrrl movement to the overall flavour of it all. Influences like Fontaines DC and, perhaps most of all, Dream Wife are felt throughout, and at times the record feels in conversation with a broader range of grassroots voices. There are moments on this album that make you long to see the band share a stage with the likes of Sorry, especially on the strength of the album closer, ‘Do You Know What I’m Thinking’, with its dreamy vocals and layered instrumentation.

Elsewhere, Lime Garden lean into a grungier sound that drives them closer to the rock side of the pop-rock equation; ‘Lifestyle’ starts with unexpected urgency and grows darker as it progresses, incorporating guitar screeches under a broad chorus, while ‘Undressed’ captures some of that sticky late-night club vibe in its steady rhythm and gradually unfurling structure. It's both promising and intriguing to see the band put on different faces for a moment, tailoring them to their own, now stronger, voice. This is something the first album couldn't quite manage; it was still busy finding its own footing, and it showcases Lime Garden’s lasting power - if there is something they are lacking, it certainly isn't ideas. 

All this considered, the tracks that truly shine are the ones where the band’s own voice is heard the loudest. Synth-happy single ‘23’ - inspired by a dream vocalist Chloe Howard once had of conversing with her younger self - is a standout opener, feeling both like a signature for the whole record and proof of evidence for what this band can do when they choose to play it a little looser. Spacey, swaying ‘All Bad Parts’ likewise manages to fully channel the intensity of Lime Garden’s live shows. If this album has a flaw, it's that this live energy doesn't always quite break through; it's not easy for a band with such a strong stage presence to bring all of it into the studio, and while there are songs where it's easy to boogie along and be fully swept up in the flow (‘Downtown Lover’ is a prime example) that's not consistently the case. There are moments when production feels a little too clean, but elsewhere (for instance, ‘Body’) the sound leans into a deliberate roughness and feels all the better for it. Call it growth, or call it a confidence boost: this record knows what it wants to sound like, and that's precisely what makes it bold and engaging.

Chiara Strazzulla

@cstrazzull

Image: ‘Maybe Not Tonight’ Official Album Cover