flora cash’s music is indie, both in style and spirit; the Swedish-American indie-pop duo mostly produce their songs themselves. Being a couple as well, Shpresa Lleshaj and Cole Randall usually have to delicately straddle the line between reality and art. And at that, they do a marvellous job, ensuring that each piece is not only personal, but also relatable.

The pair’s just-released fourth album, behind every beautiful thing, finds them as the protagonists in a narrative driven by love and the desire to keep the flame glowing. They say it is not always rosy, and this album illustrates that in a very compelling way.

flora cash have, over the years, crafted a distinct sound that combines organic instruments with modern synths. The balance is so intricate that the resulting music feels quite mesmerizing. For this album, the duo incorporated layers of strings played by Djordje Milanovic (violins and viola) and Yoed Nir (cello).

behind every beautiful thing oozes raw honesty. On it, flora cash embrace love’s joys and pains. The lyrics are expressive and insightful, highlighting the contrasts that characterize love and life. The tone is sometimes sincere, other times ironic. Sometimes there is hope, other times doubt. What, however, fills the album is an air of shared affection.

The album starts out with the nostalgic “Should’ve Dressed for the Event”, and ends with a 5-minute orchestral instrumental track that fittingly accentuates the epic undertones of the preceding two tracks. While “HOLY WATER” is an evocative song with epic drums beats and ethereal melodies, “Dragon” passionately tells a tale of one’s rise from the ashes of their own ruin.

The album carries confessions, promises, reassurances, apologies, and appreciation. For instance, on “Like No One Could”, we hear back and forth reassurances. With its hearty chorus, the song feels lowkey euphoric. The next track, “My Ex Would Have Left By Now”, is a heartfelt appreciation of a partner’s commitment, given the challenges they had to endure. A similar message is captured by “Baby I Love You”.

“Morning Comes” and “The Night Is Young”, on the other hand, capture a different attitude, exploring the thrill of the moment. If you also consider “i’m tired”, which shows us just how frustrating things can get, it becomes easy to conclude that this album captures the quintessential relationship experience. Shpresa and Cole have presented us with an album that will resonate with many on a below-the-surface level.

While behind every beautiful thing encompasses various sounds and moods, it is cohesive musically throughout its entire length of 39 minutes. As you listen to the music, you find yourself rooting for the protagonists in this relatable story.

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