FLO Are Excellent on Debut Album ‘Access All Areas’ (Review)

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FLO accredits Destiny’s Child, SWV, and the Sugababes as the few R&B and pop royals inspiring their music. However, with the 2024 release of their debut album ‘Access All Areas’, this in-sync British sisterhood brings a fresh perspective to that timeless R&B sound.

Since their 2022 debut single ‘Cardboard Box‘ (which merely hinted at the trio’s star potential) Jorja Douglas, Stella Quaresma, and Renée Downer have had an undeniably meteoric rise to success. A rise so prominent it has a series of high-profile endorsements. This includes the likes of Missy Elliot, Chloe x Halle; who feature on the deluxe, and MNEK; their chief producer. Their burgeoning career has even garnered the attention of Grammy and Emmy award winner Cynthia Erivo. The Wicked star lends her velvety voice to the trio, narrating the album’s intro and affirming their ‘iconic baddie’ status.

The impending success of ‘AAA’ strikes the perfect balance between sweet ballads and empowering sing-alongs. It speaks to the demand for a fresh consolidated girl group and the tercet’s undeniable artistry and vocal prowess. Their 2023 BET Award nomination for Best Group, BRIT’s Rising Star award, and opening-act performance for Kehlani further reaffirm their multi-continental popularity.

The album’s opening track ‘AAA‘ manages listener’s expectations. It’s preparing them for a torrent of R&B-tinted ballads with high-class vocals. Moreover, the sequencing tracks ‘In My Bag‘ (featuring GloRilla) and ‘Walk Like This‘, champion self-empowerment. Lyrics like “My body, mind and soul connected / What I got is manifested.”, prioritise self-care above all else. Pre-choruses such as these undoubtedly resonate with Gen-Z audiences preoccupied with sustaining a sense of self amidst ‘situationships’ and growing pains.

Beyond positive affirmations and self-actualization, ‘Check‘ and ‘Soft‘ celebrate loyal and faithful men. In what I can only describe as a flex of vocal agility, FLO pack ‘Soft‘ with star-studded harmonies. From its harmonic composition to the lyrical content, the song has the same celebratory and alluring sound that Destiny’s Child’s ‘Cater 2 U‘ teems with.

Fans across varying platforms have cried out for more diverse tracks on the album. However, in response, I suggest ‘I’m Just A Girl‘ which tinges with a rock-inspired beat. Alternatively, music producer Skippz who additionally produced ‘IWH2BMX‘, brings a distinctly UK drumbeat to the track’s instrumental. ‘AAA’ ranges from songs about self-love and saccharine odes to good men, to overcoming ‘situationships’ with your dignity intact. Speaking to NME, Jorja lists Aaliyah and Timberland as being “[…] influential […] especially to our sound,”. An influence that asserts itself on ‘Get Till I’m Gone‘ with its addictive hook and Timberland-esque experimental beat.

FLO occupies a unique position within the music industry at the moment. Many of their contemporaries who capitalize on our love for everything old-school R&B fall prey to one or two things. Furthermore, they lack the skill to mirror that old-school charm successfully or they lean too much into the 90’s vibe that their songs become derivative and inauthentic. This trio, however, are exempt from this. They have found the balance between vocal ingenuity, originality, and that chic 90’s aesthetic. This allows them to pay homage to Destiny’s Child, Brandy, and TLC, while retaining a highly profitable sense of individuality.

Some critics scrutinise the group for not having any major hits. However, instead of hits, they have a repertoire of back-to-back high-quality melodies, consolidating a loyal fanbase. A base so loyal and vast, they are already preparing for their 2025 Access All Areas tour. This tour will span Paris, London, Manchester, Houston, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. With fans already heralding ‘Access All Areas’ as the album of the year, they are bound to have all songs memorised before 2025.

Rating: 8.5/10

FLO is on Instagram, X, and TikTok. Stream the track below and read more album reviews here.

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