The Lost Ones was a long time coming. After a stint behind the scenes as Xenomania's resident drummer, Florrie burst onto the scene in the 2010s with a string of pop hits of her own. A star in the making. Then she was gone. Pop's fickle, whirlwind nature struck again. Not content to let her story end there, Florrie returned with her debut album, The Lost Ones. But this is not the Florrie we knew before. After setbacks, heartbreak and reflection, The Lost Ones feels a long way from the frenetic Left Too Late. But that's almost to the album's detriment. What was so exciting about her early singles was how unpredictable they were. Like a disco ball rattling inside a minecart.
Here, everything feels a little too polished, the corners a little rounded. Flory's songwriting and vocal talents are undeniable. “Kissing In The Cold” oozes yearning from every word, and “Looking for Love” brings a sparkle of euphoric club-wail energy. But many tracks become indistinguishable due to a production that struggles to recreate the magic of Max Martin and Dennis Pop. There are few surprises. “Get You Back” breaks away from that, being as edgy and fun as any early 2010s single. And “If It's Been A Hard Night,” with its lively percussion and Flory's vocals in full control, shows us even more of the old Flory. But matters are further complicated by the arrival of “I Took A Little Something,” a re-recording of one of the earlier tracks. It's full of energy from the get-go. It's sparkling, intoxicating, pure pop, and yet full of that emotion. Including this song on The Lost Ones reminds us just how good they are at finding that sweet spot where clearly defined emotion sits side by side with all-out intensity, but it also shines a spotlight on a missing vibrancy. The emotional intensity is still there, so well-crafted, but that intoxicating, exhilarating sound seems to have been lost somewhere along the way. Chris Taylor Listen: “Get You Back”