The British R&B trio Flo released their debut album, Access All Areas, leaving nothing to be desired. The deluxe edition, Access All Areas: Unlocked, features a 21-track playlist with themes centered around love, hard work, and resilience. With additional verses from GloRilla, Chloe x Halle, Kehlani, DIXSON, and Bree Runway, this project is full of mind-blowing vocal performances and high-quality production.
The album kicks off with a fairytale-like intro narrated by actress Cynthia Erivo, marking Flo’s arrival. Over a cinematic soul instrumental, Erivo tells a short story of Flo’s development saying: “In the fateful year of 2019, a pact was formed, a promise was made, a movement began. Our girls found each other and meticulously prepared a feast for our ears.” This captivating intro also pays tribute to girl groups that paved the way for them, including SWV, Destiny’s Child, and The Sugababes. This homage sets the tone for the album, as the 1990s and 2000s style of R&B is their primary influence.
All the tracks flow seamlessly as members Jorja Douglas, Stella Quaresma, and Renée Downer typically harmonize in unison, layering their angelic vocals. Most notably, on their singles “AAA,” “Check,” “Walk Like This,” and “Caught Up,” the joy and excitement in all their voices shine through. It’s refreshing to hear a team of women share the spotlight on every song, with no competition or one member being pushed to the forefront.
Flo keeps up the high energy and exudes confidence on “In My Bag,” “Soft,” and “I Would Hate To Be My Ex.” This group of tracks focuses on their irresistible it-girl aura while highlighting the hard work behind their success. This boss-girl energy is especially evident on the upbeat, fast-paced song “Nocturnal” where Jorja sings, “Chase no bag, the bag chase me/ I make that work, work look so easy/ In my own lane, respectfully/ I be wide awake meanwhile these other girls are sleepin’.”
And what is an R&B album without heartbreak? On “Get It Till I’m Gone,” a personal favorite, Flo calls out the guys who didn’t appreciate them, explicitly saying “If he’s too complacent, I’ll replace him easy.” This assertiveness and no-nonsense attitude are especially transparent on “Shoulda Woulda Coulda”, a song about getting cheated on. On that track, the group sings: “Saw you all up on her story (Ah)/ So tell me, why the hell can’t you keep yours straight?/ This shit ain’t doing nothing for me (For me)/ ‘Cause you were, oh, so close, now we’ll never know.” They’re not advocating being a “pick-me” but are all about putting themselves first.
Flo also channels femme fatale energy on the rock-inspired track “I’m Just A Girl,” another standout on the album. This closing track highlights the struggles they’ve faced as young Black women navigating through the music industry, with Renée singing: “How many Black girls do you see on centre stage now? (Oh)/ Yet you wonder why thеy’re going to the States now/ But I ain’t throwin’ shadе now.” Though often underestimated, they refuse to give up, proving to their doubters that they are here to stay.
Upon its release, the album received generally positive reviews from fans and critics alike. Pitchfork gave the record an 8.0, while NME rated it 4 out of 5 stars. The review aggregation site Metacritic was more mixed, giving the album a 64/100.
FLO’s debut album Access All Areas is one for the books. An absolute masterclass on vocal arrangement, production and story telling. Their debut is honestly a love letter to the R&B genre, to those before them and they have executed this flawlessly while adding their own to make… pic.twitter.com/oNl6XlUVMK
— CMoney (@blondedcob) November 15, 2024
The positive reactions didn’t go unnoticed. In an Instagram post, Flo expressed gratitude for their fans’ support and shared the intention behind the album: “We worked very hard because wanted every song to be a 10 out of 10, not just an album track. When our fans listen to our album, we want them to feel empowered, heard, and seen.”
Access All Areas: Unlocked is an electrifying body of work, filled with sultry melodies and empowering lyrics. This debut project showcases Flo’s vocal ability, versatility, and unstoppable drive. With tracks focusing on their personal growth, relationship experiences, and strength, they have the potential to be one of the biggest girl groups in the music industry.
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