Album Review: Dry Cleaning - "Secret Love"

Pulling in Cate Le Bon as a producer, Dry Cleaning have expanded their sound by adding even more color and style into their resume. There are more infectious grooves, pretty melodic palettes, and Florence Shaw has more of an emphasis on singing this time around.

4AD - 2026

Dry Cleaning have been one of the UK's brightest, most head turning groups since the late 2010's. Their first couple EP's sparked enough buzz to get signed to acclaimed veteran indie label 4AD, where the band have produced some great albums since: 2021's New Long Leg and 2022's Stumpwork. Both of these albums are remarkable to hear. New Long Leg is a sharp full length introduction to the group with engrossing post punk energy matched with Florence Shaw's dry, deadpan wit. They sound off the cuff and even poetic at times. Shaw sings about anything and everything that seems to come to her mind, from numerous bouncing balls' different country origins to observing Antiques Roadshow on TV. I'm leaving a lot out in the lyric sheet but Shaw's vocals are uniquely distinct. Because of that, they may be a breaking point for some listeners. It's often dry, deadpan and will venture off into talking territory. I remember being confused when I first heard them but with repeated listens, her energy on top of the band's instrumentals seemed to click for me and scratch a certain itch I didn't know I had originally. There's a certain classic post punk, slacker energy that's already there and Shaw's voice just adds so much more intrigue and layers to the instrumentals. There are many memorable moments on New Long Leg and the band found even more on Stumpwork shortly a year after. Once you get past the shocking album artwork that's equally gross as it is impressive (if you don't know, you'll just have to see for yourself), Stumpwork has even more colorful production, sharp left turns, slow burners, and reaffirms any listener who thought of New Long Leg as simply a one-off.

Aside from the occasional single or EP since 2022, Dry Cleaning took more time for their third album to germinate. They recorded some demos at Wilco's studio The Loft and ended up meeting acclaimed singer, songwriter, and producer Cate Le Bon there while she was producing Wilco's excellent Cousin record. Hitting it off, they decided to rerecord with her as the lead producer. This definitely peaked my interest because as compelling of a singer songwriter as Cate is, she has proven herself to be quite the producer too, having produced records like Deerhunter's latest album from 2019 and the Wilco record I previously mentioned. Those records sound amazing to me and already thinking of how Cate's sound would compliment a new Dry Cleaning album is enough to get me hyped.

After listening to Secret Love, the group's third studio album, it's safe to say that it's absolutely delightful and delectable. With the help of Cate Le Bon's production, Dry Cleaning have expanded their sound by adding even more color and style into their resume. There are more infectious grooves, pretty melodic palettes, and Shaw has more of an emphasis on singing this time around, specifically on the songs' hooks themselves. The band sound more invigorating and energetic too, like a group that can push their sound even further than they already have. Lead single "Hit My Head All Day" is a clear example of this. At six minutes in length and built around some tight funky grooves and synthesizers, it's the closest Dry Cleaning have gotten to the dancefloor. It's infectious, cooky, and I can't help but be enveloped in its grooves. "Cruise Ship Designer" is a cheery Dry Cleaning classic with an instrumental that has plenty of pep in its step with Shaw singing and going on about how much she enjoys her job as, you guessed it, a cruise ship designer. Can you blame her? She's making the most of a bad situation and is striking while the iron is hot! The song goes smoothly into "My Soul / Half Pint," another solid tune that has a flourishing back half.

The album also features much more emotional, melodic singing from Shaw in particular on tracks like the title track and "Let Me Grow and You'll See the Fruit." When Shaw reaches into her higher register on the title track's chorus, we're definitely reaching some of the album's highest highs here. "Let Me Grow" has some beautiful folk acoustic instrumentation that really drives the band forward into newer territory. It's refreshing to hear. "Blood" has some excellent drum machine and guitar patterns over a dreamy, new wavy instrumental. "Rocks" is a bit rougher and rowdier with its surprising shift into lo-fi garage rock. "Evil Evil Idiot" is a slow burner with moody atmospheric xylophone that's all about burnt food. "The Cute Things" goes into cuter and more twee territory with a few new surprises, like some twangy pedal steel guitar in the mix. "I Need You" has the same murky, moody synth work of a Cate Le Bon track and it fittingly backs Shaw's narrations. "Joy" closes the album with a peppy, upbeat finish and is a sunny highlight on the album, with Shaw optimistically promising that joy will build and come.

There are few bands like Dry Cleaning out there and they continue to flourish and expand with Secret Love. I feel like with this album, the fans will approve, but the vocals and lyrics are still going to be a cross for newbies to bear. Once you've come to appreciate and welcome it, Dry Cleaning are a massively enjoyable band who are really great at making their style of music while also toying at different styles and sounds, pushing themselves even further. Cate Le Bon's production choices compliment the band very nicely and Secret Love remains to be on of the year's best albums so far. I'm very excited what the band does in the future and if you enjoy all of the grooves, post punkisms, and dry, funny narrating, then you should be too!

My Rating: 8 / 10

Favorite Songs: "Hit My Head All Day," "Joy," "Cruise Ship Designer," "Secret Love," "The Cute Things," "Let Me Grow and You'll See the Fruit"