FLO’s Debut Album, Access All Areas, May Be the Best R&B Release of Last Year

From the minute British R&B girl group FLO’s debut single came out in 2022 and went viral on Twitter, now X, I knew these girls were a force to be reckoned with. I knew they would create a new wave for western girl groups. This past November 15th, the girls of FLO: Stella, Jorja, and Renée- breathed life into their debut album in a way that still leaves me with my mouth agape even three months later. Everyone can agree that 2024 was an amazing year for music across genres. I can say with absolute certainty that Access All Areas was among the best, if not THE best R&B release of last year.

In today’s post-Wicked world, who doesn’t know who Cynthia Erivo is? The actress delivers a great monologue in “Intro (feat. Cynthia Erivo)” on R&B greats and girl groups past, acknowledging FLO’s seniors in the industry and how badly a new powerhouse R&B group was needed in the world. The girls each shine in their own verses, touching on love, heartbreak, and self-confidence with beautiful harmonies that wind down and then burst coming into “AAA“.

The title track has easily one of my favorite instrumentals on the entire album; it is explosive, in your face, and dynamic. Though this is felt throughout, the soul of the piece is in its final chorus where Jorja sings lead and an absolute firework of ad-libs where all the girls get a chance to demonstrate the talent they have. It’s absolutely insane.

“In My Bag (feat. GloRilla)” quickly follows a total self-love gem that puts forth positive energy with the utmost confidence will come our way. The chorus is repetitive and so fun to dance to, with the harmonies building up and getting a little higher with each line. GloRilla comes in on the third verse with her trademark flow and does her piece, but in my opinion, she’s overshadowed by the absolutely phenomenal harmony build up that transitions into the outro, singing “in my bag” like a mantra, a manifestation of what will come.

Suddenly, in your ear there’s the iconic click-clack of high heels that starts off “Walk Like This”, the album’s first single (and my most listened-to song of last year.) Being of the Pop-R&B genre, it’s a great introduction to FLO if you’ve never heard their music before and a total earworm. The instrumental is light and poppy but with a strong undertone that keeps it steady, with the vocal sample tying it all together so well. The pre-choruses and the bridge? What do I even say… There’s a reason this was their first single!! 

I want to go back to the day I first heard “How Does It Feel?” and relive it all again 48 times straight. What a song! I think of this track as finally getting into the soul of the album, and it’s a total anthem on self-worth. There’s so much going on sonically but it’s never overwhelming. It’s stacked with choir-like synths and vocal samples that make up the music itself that are so bewitching, I feel like I’m in a trance. The outro with the whistle notes? The transition into “Soft”? My jaw was and still is on the floor.

“Soft” continues with the same message, but in a way that is so much more sensual and delicate; this is contemporary R&B perfection. The girls sound effortless and sexy, the strings make it romantic and inviting, the pauses are dramatic and add so much depth. I can overlook the short length of the song (my number one pet peeve in music!) because of how loaded and flawlessly executed it is.

“Check” is a great follow-up and brings back the Pop-R&B sound from “Walk Like This”, though it is my least favorite of the five singles. It serves as good dance music and is easy to remember, with a catchy chorus, and dips a little into the UK-Garage genre which makes it an interesting listen. It’s accompanied by a music video that oozes femininity and girlhood- overall it’s a really cute song, but a bit overshadowed by the plethora of standout tracks that make up Access All Areas.

Now I admit, it took me a few listens to get “On & On” and I don’t know what was wrong with me as it quickly climbed my personal album ranking. Another great example of contemporary R&B that is playful and sultry. The minimal instrumental on the bridge was quick but purposeful- now all eyes are on Renée, Stella, and Jorja. The breakdown in this bridge is the highlight of the song, easy.

The ninth and my personal favorite track on the album, “Bending My Rules”, introduces us to vocal, harmonic and overall R&B perfection. The way Stella opens with her verse is intoxicating- her tone is direct and craving. Jorja is dynamic and delivers runs that give you goosebumps. Renée leads the chorus and is subtle but not shy. The keys become more prominent following the bridge in such a beautiful way until the song closes out.

“Trustworthy (Interlude)” resumes the piano-led melody, in which Renée’s deeper tone really shines and is absolutely integral to the ballad. However, “Trustworthy” contains a warning of an insecure man, a message that is very apparent but hidden by the prettiness of the track. The relationship is going downhill throughout “Caught Up”. Accusing the boyfriend of infidelity, the girls promise revenge if their suspicions are proven to be true. The evidence is quickly piling up, building the bridge to be a desperate cry for honesty even if it hurts. Each chorus is a question, and the outro finally delivers- the boyfriend was a cheater, but what now? Is the relationship over?

“IWH2BMX”, or ‘I Would Hate To Be My Ex’ quickly answers this. The best revenge was quickly moving on and working towards success, there was never any need for a man whose needs conflict with the career they’ve been dreaming of. “Nocturnal” gets the same point across but is more boasting and self-celebrating than “IWH2BMX” preferring to leave past people in the dust. Both of these songs are a bit darker sound-wise, they’re meant to be grand and haunting so as to show off this new side of their persona’s post-breakup, and the ad-libs with the reverb are such a great detail. 

The wind-down at the end of “Nocturnal” lets you reason that there’s a song coming up, but the actual transition into “Shoulda Woulda Coulda” still caught me off guard. This may be the most nostalgic instrumental on the album, with the intro instantly making me think of Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody”, which I’m sure was an inspiration for this particular sound. I interpret the lyrics as one of two things: a relapse into the previous relationship, or a new guy that quickly messed up on something that could’ve led to something great. The strings that close the song are beautiful and weeping, mourning what could’ve been and will never be.

There’s no time to dwell though! “Get It Till I’m Gone” reestablishes the girls’ confidence in themselves and what they bring to the table. If the boyfriend fails to see that, it’s not on them. Each of the members say their piece and move on from the situation. I particularly love Stella and Renée’s verses- their distinctive voices each adding a part that satisfies the ear.

Lastly, “I’m Just a Girl” is so different from the rest of the album. At first, it’s a little confusing, but once you get into the lyrics you don’t particularly care. The full-force drums, the chants, the rasp, anger, and bluntness in their voices, everything is meant to call out the industry, particularly the scene in the UK, and claim their spot in the limelight.

Though I’ve seen mixed reviews on this track, I’m a huge fan. I’m all for artists expressing their frustrations and letting it all out as music is a therapeutic medium to many, including FLO. It’s a bit out of the ordinary for the girl group, but I love that they took this risk. Besides, who doesn’t love seeing artists explore and venture into other genres?

Not only is this a fantastic body of work, it’s a DEBUT. To be so cohesive and have a signature element in your music already is beyond impressive. It speaks to FLO’s artistry and the passion they have for their craft. The girls are kicking off their first world tour next week! I could not be more excited to see what they have in store as they promote this album. The girls are absolute vocal powerhouses, and I know each performance will deliver and do what it needs to do!