EXTENDED PLAY 075: LIME CORDIALE | ENOUGH OF THE SWEET TALK | ALBUM REVIEW

Words by Sofia Perica.

Lime Cordiale’s new album, Enough of The Sweet Talk, offers a fresh take to their sound through a more conceptual approach, whilst continuing to show off their original pop-rock flare. 

I love how the album has more emphasis on thoughtful storytelling that weens us through an emotional journey. It is divided by four interludes that is interrupted by a soft-spoken French woman and ambient trumpet sounds, each reflecting the different stages of a relationship – the first two ‘cues’ focusing on the infatuation and romanticisation associated with new love and then the last two carries us through it’s inevitable disenchantment. Listening to them gives me this image of being in a café in Paris smoking a cigarette talking about love with a chic French woman - I love it.

Pedestal and The Milkman both use upbeat rhythm and catchy melody to explore this blissful ignorance that comes with the honeymoon stages of a relationship. It perfectly captures that initial excitement and giddiness of dating someone. I love how Lime Cordiale use brass in their music and particularly in these songs; tt adds a fresh, new layer to your classic indie-rock band. 

Facts Of Life sonically feels the most reminiscent to their other discography, jangly guitar chords giving us a laid-back summery vibe, but it’s interesting how the sound juxtaposes to the lyrics, particularly when Louis sings cheerfully “put me out of my misery.”  There’s a sense of an underlying tension and resentment that is glazed over with a blissful denial in this part of the album as it takes us through Enough Of The Sweet Talk, Happiness Season and Colin. 

When I’m Losing It and Imposter Syndrome uses solemn brass, sexy bass guitar and Louis’ raspy voice to explore a kind of mental decline that comes with the deterioration of a relationship. I love how vulnerable they get here about mental health. It’s nice to know that even Lime Cordiale feel like a “colossal freak show” sometimes (I do pretty much everyday).

We then shift towards this kind of disdain that’s felt towards the end of a relationship, but they do it in such a cheerful, almost theatrical way. The Big Reveal; Ou L’Hypocrite is my favourite song in this section. It’s so catchy and sonically so satisfying to listen to. Country Club has a similar vibe with a low-key reggae touch to it, mixed with the use of groovy, electric synth, it definitely has me doing some serious boogying.

Love Is Off The Table is just fantastic, particularly in terms of instrumentation. It reminds me of what makes Lime Cordiale’s music so unique. The sonic layering is so complex you can hear brass, percussion, guitar, drums, and vocal harmony. It literally feels like an eargasm listening to it.

We finished with Strangers and it perfectly captures the initial shock and feelings of isolation that comes with heartbreak. The song feels very classically bossa nova, but then it has these gut-wrenching lyrics “people fall out of love, but I never thought it’d be us.” The end of this song makes me feel transcendent. Those reverberated vocals effectively articulate that painful and agonising haze of heartbreak.

Overall, I really resonated with this album. It reminds about the tragedy of the human experience; we love, we lose, we go insane sometimes, but it’s beautiful to know we are all going through the same shit. I can’t wait to see them play these songs live.