We first encountered Flo Crowe and the Dilemmas earlier this year, celebrating ‘That Was That’ as “a soothing, playful and vibrant piece balanced between indie pop and gentler folk tones”. We stand by our words; as debut efforts go, the record provides a striking showcase of what the Cornish outfit has to offer. Championed by Brighton-based label Little Genius Recordings, Flo Crowe and the Dilemmas return today with their sophomore record, ‘Shy Girl’, a playfully haunting and catchy gem built over eclectic synth-pop tones and luscious, hypnotic melodies.
Temporarily leaving behind their folk component, the British outfit engages in mainstream pop territories, yet never forgetting the quirky edge that makes the band such a worthy discovery. Enriched by a steady electronic beat and a pompous trumpet, ‘Shy Girl’ develops as a melancholic anthem of sorts, tying together a seemingly innocuous instrumental with meaningful, purposeful lyricism. In this case, Flo Crowe and the Dilemmas don’t hide their observant, socially-relevant songwriting.
As Flo Crowe explains: “Part of the idea behind ‘Shy Girl’ is to kick back against the expectation of women needing to be ‘seen and not heard’ and demure; that tradwife thing we are hearing about in some areas of social media. The so-called ‘Shy Girl’ is polite and won’t make a fuss. Well! We think, along with many other women, that we have the right to make a fuss.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Shy Girl’ on Spotify:
