The Feminine Divine

Following the release of Let the Record Show: Dexys Do Irish and Country Soul by Dexys in 2016, the band's frontman Rowland lacked ideas for new music for at least three years. In 2021, however, he started writing and producing demos for songs that he had composed with Read, Timothy and Paterson. The following year, studio recordings were made in venues including Read's Famous Times studio in Hackney, London, Chapman's studio in Catford, and Timothy's studio in Willesden. Both actual and synthesized instruments were used. After tensions between Rowland and Chapman threatened to derail the sessions, Pete Schwier, who had previously co-produced Dexys recordings, was engaged to work with the group and Chapman, and work on the album was completed.[6]

Official press materials to publicise the album described it as "A personal, if not strictly autobiographical, record portraying a man whose views have evolved over time. Not just on women, but the whole concept of masculinity he had been raised with."[8] Rowland told Harriet Gibsone of The Guardian that a trip to Thailand, where he learnt about Tao, had been significant for him: "Through Tao, I learned about the concept of women as goddesses. I realised that women are powerful. Until then, I'd never really tried to understand them. That's quite an incredible admission, really."[9] Rowland explained that the first five songs of the album have a narratie where the narrator expresses different attitudes towards a relationship. in the fifth song, the title track, "he examines his relationships with women, and he sees that he's been sadly lacking".[10] The remaining tracks concern a new relationship after this insight.[10]

The album's cover art features an illustration inspired by Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes and fire.[3] A supporting tour, of theatre venues, was organised, with the band intending to play the entire album live.[6][11] Rowland told Tina Benitez-Eves of American Songwriter that the group would "theatrically perform the songs — act them out".[10]

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	77/100[12]
Review scores
Source	Rating
The Line of Best Fit	6/10[13]
Record Collector	[14]
Mojo	[15]
The Guardian	[1]
RetroPop	[16]

The Feminine Divine received a score of 77 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on four critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[12] Uncut felt that "the group confidently flits between low-key funk, lush symphonic Philly soul and the more punchy post-Motown dance grooves of Chairmen of the Board", with "the constant being Rowland's powerfully assured vocal delivery of his mea culpa confessionals".[12] Record Collector's Shaun Curran wrote that the first half has a "recognisably Dexys feel: full of blaring brass, soul-inflections, Rowland's histrionic vocals and something of the musical theatre of 2012's One Day I'm Going to Soar", calling the second half "a striking electronic makeover". He concluded that "if the premise is laid on a bit thick – Rowland never does things by halves – at least torch song My Submission is the most beautiful thing Dexys have ever done".[14]

Mojo's David Hutcheon wrote that "the second half – 'a saucy, synth-heavy cabaret' – will undoubtedly lose a few fans, yet Rowland still manages to pull a gem out of the fire with the touching 'My Submission'".[15] Simon Heavisides of The Line of Best Fit concluded that the album "can't match those first three deathless classic albums and falls just below the convincing return that was One Day I'm Going to Soar. Still, there's enough of their unique brilliance on display to make this a qualified victory".[13]