UP-AND-COMING indie rockers Lime Garden whizzed through a set at the Jacaranda Baltic on Wednesday. Showcasing their relatively short new album before an appreciative crowd in the Jac’s sweaty basement, the gig felt as though it was over before it had really gotten started.

This was due in part to a couple of songs — like Downtown Lover and Lifestyle — abruptly ending while seemingly in full swing. No complaints about the toe-tapping dance-punk on display; just the lingering feeling that the album could have afforded another five minutes’ runtime. What’s more is that frontwoman Chloe Howard and Co zipped through Maybe Not Tonight, leaving little time for pleasantries or lyrical exposition in-between.

The only real disappointment of the evening was the mixing. Though it improved somewhat after the first couple of numbers, Leila Deeley’s impressively glitchy guitar work and Annabel Whittle’s sturdy grooves were largely drowned out by Tippi Morgan’s bass. You can’t complain too much about this though; Morgan’s driving bass chops are a highlight of the band’s sound.

Despite these mixing issues, a listen to the record shows the strength of the songs themselves. Howard’s distinctive voice really shines through when it can be heard in the clearer, studio recorded mixes of tracks like All Bad Parts and Always Thinking About You.

Towards the end of the record, the piano break on Undressed is an aural delight. The highlight of Maybe Not Tonight, though, is its title track: about as perfect a summation as you can get of the album’s introspective, synthy sound.         

Hiding behind an inexpressive stage presence is a promising band whose heartfelt lyrics and danceable — albeit short — tunes certainly merit a listen. Lime Garden are a tightly rehearsed act and are worth any punter’s time — if the mixing desk can tame their sound. 

Maybe Not Tonight was released on April 10 via So Young Records and their touring will recommence in September.