Home New Music Forgotten Garden give us a dreamy vision of a ‘Bad Guy’

Forgotten Garden give us a dreamy vision of a ‘Bad Guy’

Forgotten Garden Bad Guy

Will songwriters ever be able to resist the lure of the bad guy, the wolf, the Mr Wrong? Whether it’s Shirley Bassey wailing about Goldfinger or Taylor Swift’s latest kiss-off, those shady heartbreaking men provide rich artistic fodder. And here, Forgotten Garden offer their own take with the bluntly named ‘Bad Guy’, albeit with a gentler mood than you might expect.

Forgotten Garden – Bad Guy

Forgotten Garden are an indie band based in Scotland, with a core duo of guitarist Danny Elliott and vocalist Inês Rebelo, plus other more transient guest members. Starting in 2019, they’ve had a little time to build their act, releasing an EP and a handful of singles.

‘Bad Guy’ is a lush, flowing indie ode to a no-good man, delivered with an interesting bystander detachment by the band.

There’s a childlike simplicity to the lyrics – “He’s a bad bad bad guy, he’ll take all your dreams from you just to make himself feel good” – delivered with a sweet up-close breathiness by Rebelo. I was most struck by the contrast between the darkness of the subject matter and the apparent sweetness of the track delivering it.

With a mellow picked guitar-riff, dreamy vocal harmonies, and shimmering percussion, the band creates a hypnotic groove, alongside Elliott’s smooth production. Fans of classic older indie bands such as The Cure, REM, and The Cardigans may find lots to enjoy here. It’s a highly listenable offering to let wash over you on an evening, so why not give Forgotten Garden a listen?

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Words Eden Tredwell