Dry Cleaning are a new young South London band thriving in the UK art/post punk scene. Florence Shaw's overtly descriptive and observational narrations are full of personality and humor, with pummeling guitars and sharp bass. New Long Leg is quite the boldly admirable and charming listen that will stick with you through 2021 and beyond.
Dry Cleaning are a post punk band from South London. Surprisingly, there have been a heap of fantastic, young talent from the UK who've provided some of the most unique and exuberant post punk and art rock (or art punk) in recent memory. black midi, Shame, Black country, New Road, Squid, Dry Cleaning, you name it. All of these bands have been killing it in 2021 and each one has their own spin on styles. Mostly, these groups' subject matter can be dark and apocalyptic as well as observational and political. I would in fact call it "post-Brexit" if there's an official genre name for these groups. Dry Cleaning, this quartet of young British musicians, have put their own spin on things for sure. For one thing, lead vocalist Florence Shaw is quite the unique front woman. She has this very deadpan and dry delivery full of observational wit and charm. It can almost be considered close to slam poetry, where Shaw is mostly narrating rather than singing over these guitar thumping rhythmic instrumentals. Shaw actually reminds me of Kim Gordon in a way due to her tone and sense of humor. Yeah, Shaw doesn't have the raspiness of Kim (I mean, no one does), but I do think the comparisons are there.
A few other things to note about Dry Cleaning before we dive in. They recently signed to 4AD records, a large flagship for indie veterans (Tune-Yards, The National, Deerhunter, Grimes). New Long Leg (this album I'm gonna get to soon, I promise) is the debut album from Dry Cleaning and it is quite the statement. The album's formula includes a lot of pummeling guitars, sharp bass, drums, and Shaw's deadpan vocals. The overall sound and style of their music is punchy, loud, and very pleasant to the ears. I can hear a new wave and 90's indie influence in their guitar tones. The band's bread and butter are the vocals and the guitars. Her overtly descriptive and observational lyrics and her monotone, deadpan delivery are certainly not for everyone. It took me a little bit to warm up to it, to be honest. I can deinfitely see some people get turned off when they hear her saying things like, "I think of myself as a hardy banana with that waxy surface and the small delicate flowers." When Shaw does in fact sing, there are some sharp melodies she brings to the table. I know, it's not for everyone but I do think her lyrics are pretty funny, admirable, and memorable! It's the main reason why Dry Cleaning are a very charming band.
The guitars on this record are quite excellent and can carry the song to a glorious high point. The riffs are quite sticky and catchy, while the groovy bass is popping off too. To be specific, the echoing guitars riffing on "Scratchcard Lanyard" (the album's best single) with the meditative drum machine beats on top sound so satisfying. The title track is another great example of the guitars just absolutely going off. It has the best hooks (guitar and vocal-wise) on the entire record. It's an explosion of coolness dude! Also one of my favorite lines of Shaw's is on this track: "Would you choose a dentist with a messy back garden like that? I don’t think so." I really like the handclaps, atmospheric drum machine, and groovy drive on "Leafy." The noisy abrasive guitars and pummeling percussion on "Unsmart Lady" are a highlight on the album, while the steady and meditative groove on "Strong Feelings" is solid too. The addition of acoustic guitars on "Her Hippo" is a nice touch and the varied guitar textures on "A.L.C" is a nice change of pace. Also, if you have a track called "John Wick" on your record, I will personally give you bonus points. John Wick is one my my favorite movie franchises and any artist who mentions it in some capacity will get brownie points (not just bonus points, but brownie points too). I do have to mention that on "John Wick" there's something you won't find on any other record: an Antique's Roadshow breakdown. Yes, you heard me right: an Antique's. Roadshow. Breakdown. Shaw talks about how the show has changed over the years and I'm here for it: "The reason the price reveals were so good was because we had to wait for them." I almost forgot to mention how amazingly blissful "More Big Birds" is. The added pianos and breezy vocal melodies from Shaw are stunning. The album's seven minute closer "Every Day Carry" has an intense buildup that gratefully explodes in its final conclusive moments.
To my eyes, the album's cover represents this industrial, manmade representation of society that goes together quite snugly with the album's sound and themes. The band's grooves, guitars, vocals, and lyrics are uniquely distinctive; after hearing New Long Leg, you'll know a Dry Cleaning song when you hear one. Florence Shaw's deadpan narrations of thinking about eating a hot dog for hours or being at a café that has a sushi counter and a counter that did pastries and mixed salads isn't for everyone, I know. When listening to the whole record some of the instrumentals can be a little one dimensional due to the sound's dryness (it could use a little bit more moisture here and there). I do wish there was a bit more experimentation and change ups on these songs but the guitars, drum machines, and Shaw's lyrics keeps things fresh and interesting for the most part. Despite these complaints, they're just little bitty ones. I did end up enjoying New Long Leg and it's a nice surprise within the realm of post punk and art rock. Florence Shaw's personality and sense of humor are a huge selling point of this record. Hopefully Dry Cleaning will continue to keep listeners on their toes. I'm crossing my fingers for more Antique's Roadshow breakdowns in the near future, please.
My Rating: 8 / 10
Favorite Songs: "Scratchcard Lanyard," "New Long Leg,""Strong Feelings," "More Big Birds," "Leafy," "John Wick"
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