Spotlight Release Review | Flo Crowe & The Dilemmas Take Shelter in Sound with Sparkling Debut ‘That Was That’
United Kingdom, Cornwall
Flo Crowe & The Dilemmas aren’t easing their way in. They’re kicking the door wide open with That Was That, a striking debut that’s as thoughtful as it is melodic. Hailing from Cornwall and still barely out of their teens, this five-piece wastes no time making a statement, and it’s one you’ll want to play on repeat.
Right from the opening bars, That Was That leans into the band’s core identity: layered harmonies floating over electronic pop pulses, with just enough grit in the guitar to anchor the sweetness. There’s a real sense of emotional honesty here, the sort that feels lived-in rather than manufactured. At 3:55, it’s tightly packed but never rushed. Every verse is deliberate. Every hook well-earned.
Flo Crowe leads with an unmistakable vocal presence. Soft where it needs to be, raw when it counts. She’s matched by the interplay of Cerys Wilcox and Paige Mullin’s vocal lines, giving the track its heart. Lyrically, it’s a song about moving on, but not in a bitter way. It’s about clarity after the storm, delivered with a nod of acceptance rather than a stomp of anger.
Then there’s the production. Glossy but not overdone. Moses Seaber’s electronic drums add modern texture, while Grace C.G.’s guitar work keeps it grounded, brushing against the edges of indie rock without losing that alt-pop accessibility. It’s a musical shelter, just like the band says, and they’re reaching out to listeners to share it with them.
With a debut album on the way and a Boardmasters slot locked in alongside the likes of Wet Leg, Raye, and The Prodigy, it’s clear that That Was That is only the beginning for this Cornwall-based clan.
