8/10

There's an instantly appealing lack of hesitation running through the first album from Flo Crowe & The Dilemmas. Barely a year into their existence, the Cornwall five-piece already sound like a group that understands exactly which qualities make them distinctive.

And much of that identity begins with the vocals. Flo Crowe’s lead performance carries the emotional narrative, but the record is rarely centred on one voice alone. Cerys Wilcox and Paige Mullin surround her with carefully arranged soprano and alto parts, turning individual thoughts into something broader and more collective. At times, the three singers appear to be answering one another; elsewhere, they combine into a single force that gives even the most inward-looking writing a sense of scale.

The instrumentation underneath those harmonies is equally important. Grace C.G.’s guitar introduces an appealing roughness, preventing the music from becoming overly polished, while Moses Seaber’s electronic percussion gives the record a firm contemporary foundation. Crowe’s keyboard work helps connect both sides, moving between intimate accompaniment and brighter, more expansive flourishes.

Tracks like 'Anti-Sociable' and 'Bigger and Brighter' provide the clearest introduction to their strengths. The former's central frustration with online performance and empty conversation is immediately accessible, but then the arrangement turns that discomfort outward, with the vocal layers and piano creating a chorus that feels designed to be shared by a crowd. While the latter broadens the band's more intimate approach, dazzling us with some dance floor-ready grooves impossible not to get swept away with.

Earlier releases 'That Was That' and 'Shy Girl' also benefit from their place within the complete album, albeit with the latter receiving a "feature length" rework. What initially sounded like promising standalone material now feels connected to a wider examination of heartache, confidence, identity and the challenge of remaining emotionally open.

There are moments when the band’s enthusiasm leads to arrangements that seem eager to introduce every available idea, but that restlessness is also part of the album’s charm. At an average age of twenty, Flo Crowe & The Dilemmas are still discovering how far their sound can stretch, and the record captures that process without appearing unfinished.

Released through Little Genius Recordings, the self-titled album is an assured opening chapter from a band whose rapid progress feels justified. Its strongest moments are not simply catchy or technically impressive; here, they create the impression of five musicians finding strength in the space between individuality and unity.