Dry Cleaning (band) explained

Dry Cleaning
Landscape:yes
Origin:South London, United Kingdom
Genre:Post-punk
Years Active:2017–present
Associated Acts:La Shark, November Coming Fire, The Kenneths
Current Members:
  • Florence Shaw
  • Lewis Maynard
  • Tom Dowse
  • Nick Buxton

Dry Cleaning are an English post-punk band who formed in South London in 2017.[1] The band is composed of vocalist Florence Shaw, guitarist Tom Dowse, bassist Lewis Maynard and drummer Nick Buxton. They are noted for their use of spoken word primarily in lieu of sung vocals, as well as their unconventional lyrics. Their musical style has been compared to Wire, Magazine and Joy Division.[2] They have been described as "Annette Peacock fronting the Fall or PiL or Siouxsie and the Banshees".[3]

The band's debut album, New Long Leg, was released in April 2021 to widespread critical acclaim, with its follow-up, Stumpwork, released in October 2022 to further accolades.

History

Formation

When Lewis Maynard, Tom Dowse and Nick Buxton – old friends whose previous bands had crossed paths in London - united to start a new band together in 2017, they did so with the intention of doing so for fun. Rehearsing from the garage at Maynard's mothers house, the trio spent the next few months writing the songs that would ultimately become Dry Cleaning.

Vocalist Florence Shaw had met Tom Dowse around 2010 at the Royal College of Art where they both were students, and quickly became friends.

Convincing Shaw to join the band took months. The rest of the band members invited her to one of their rehearsals. Drummer Nick Buxton told Shaw she could just talk instead of sing and gave her a playlist that included Grace Jones' cover of "Private Life" and other similar tracks. She finally accepted and went into rehearsal with "writing from my old drawings, stuff I’d written on my phone, diaries, things I’d seen in adverts and thought were funny" — and read aloud as the other three played their instruments around her. She recalls this moment “like when you see those cheesy films about bands, and they’re writing the hit, and there’s a magic moment.”[4] [5]

"Magic of Meghan", EPs and New Long Leg

The band released their debut single, "Magic of Meghan" in 2019. Shaw wrote the song after going through a break-up and moving out of her former partner's apartment the same day that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced they were engaged.[6] This was followed by the release of two EPs that year: Sweet Princess in August and Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks in October. The band were included as part of the NME 100 of 2020,[7] as well as DIY magazine's Class of 2020.[8]

The band signed to 4AD in late 2020 and shared a new single, "Scratchcard Lanyard".[9] In February 2021, the band shared details of their debut studio album, New Long Leg. They also shared the single "Strong Feelings".[10] The album, which was produced by John Parish, was released on 2 April 2021.[11]

Stumpwork

In June 2022, the band announced a new single, "Don't Press Me", which premiered on BBC Radio 6 Music on 14 June. That same day they announced their second album Stumpwork, which was released on 21 October 2022.[12] [13] As with their debut, the album was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, and produced by John Parish.[14]

Members

Discography

Artist:Dry Cleaning
Studio:2
Compilation:1
Ep:3
Singles:10

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"
DetailsPeak chart positions
UK
[15]
UK
Indie

[16]
AUS
[17]
BEL
(FL)

[18]
IRE
[19]
POR
[20]
SCO
[21]
US
Sales

[22]
US
Heat

[23]
New Long Leg 4 1 67 45 26 4 60 16
Stumpwork
  • Released: 21 October 2022
  • Label: 4AD
  • Formats: LP, CD, cassette, digital download, streaming
11 4 77 30 9 34 13

Compilation albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"
DetailsPeak chart positions
UK
Indie

[24]
UK
Phys.

[25]
Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks/Sweet Princess
  • Released: 25 October 2019
  • Label: It's OK
  • Formats: LP
36 91

Extended plays

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"
DetailsPeak chart positions
UK
DL

[26]
Sweet Princess
  • Released: 24 September 2018
  • Label: It's OK
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, cassette
Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks
  • Released: 25 October 2019
  • Label: It's OK
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Tascam Sessions
  • Released: 16 November 2021
  • Label: 4AD
  • Formats: 12-inch vinyl
Swampy
  • Released: 1 March 2023
  • Label: 4AD
  • Formats: Digital download, cassette
51

Singles

Title! scope="col" style="width:4em;"
YearAlbums
"Magic of Meghan"[27] 2019Sweet Princess
"Goodnight"[28]
"Sit Down Meal"[29] Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks
"Viking Hair"[30]
"Scratchcard Lanyard"[31] 2020New Long Leg
"Strong Feelings"[32] 2021
"Unsmart Lady"
"Oblivion"rowspan="2"
"Bug Eggs" / "Tony Speaks"
"Don't Press Me"2022Stumpwork
"Anna Calls from the Arctic"
"Gary Ashby"
"No Decent Shoes For Rain"

Awards and nominations

!Year!Association!Category!Nominated Work!Result!Ref
2021AIM Independent Music AwardsBest Independent AlbumNew Long Leg[33]
2022Libera AwardsRecord of the Year[34]
Best Alternative Rock Record
2023Record of the YearStumpwork[35]
Best Alternative Rock Record
2024Grammy AwardsBest Recording Package[36]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 16 September 2019. Dry Cleaning: London group uniting murky post-punk with, er, Meghan Markle. 15 March 2021. NME. en-GB.
  2. Web site: Neale . Matthew . Dry Cleaning: the London group uniting murky post-punk, Meghan Markle and really weird YouTube comments . NME . 16 September 2019 . BandLab Technologies . 11 February 2021.
  3. Web site: Segal . Dave . Dry Cleaning at Neptune Theatre . Thestranger.com . 15 November 2021. 21 November 2021.
  4. Vozick-Levinson . Simon. The Everyday Poetry of Dry Cleaning . Rolling Stone. 17 March 2021 . 18 August 2021.
  5. Web site: Dry Cleaning's Everyday Surrealism . . 6 April 2021 .
  6. Web site: Jenkins . Carla . Who are Dry Cleaning and what is the Meghan Markle connection? . The National . 11 February 2021.
  7. Web site: Smith . Thomas . The NME 100: Essential new artists for 2020 . NME . 3 January 2020 . 11 February 2021.
  8. Web site: Wright . Lisa . Class of 2020: Dry Cleaning . DIY. 6 December 2019 . 11 February 2021.
  9. Web site: Minsker . Evan . Dry Cleaning Sign to 4AD, Share New Song "Scratchcard Lanyard": Listen . Pitchfork . 19 November 2020 . Pitchfork Media . 11 February 2021.
  10. Web site: Pappis . Konstantinos . Dry Cleaning Announce New Album 'New Long Leg', Share New Song 'Strong Feelings' . Our Culture Mag . 10 February 2021 . 11 February 2021.
  11. Web site: 2 April 2021. Dry Cleaning: New Long Leg review - terrific post-punk poets of the everyday. 2 April 2021. the Guardian. en.
  12. Web site: 14 June 2022. Dry Cleaning Announce New Album Stumpwork, Share Video for New Song: Watch. Pitchfork. en.
  13. Web site: 14 June 2022. Dry Cleaning – "Don't Press Me". Stereogum. en.
  14. Web site: 14 June 2022. Dry Cleaning : Announce New Album 'Stumpwork' & New Single 'Don't Press Me'. 4AD. en.
  15. Web site: Dry Cleaning full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. 29 October 2022.
  16. Peak positions
  17. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 31 October 2022. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1704. 6. 31 October 2022.
  18. Web site: Ultratop.be – Dry Cleaning – New Long Leg. Dutch. Hung Medien. 16 July 2022.
  19. Web site: Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50. Official Charts Company. 16 July 2022.
  20. Web site: Portuguesecharts.com – Dry Cleaning – New Long Leg. Hung Medien. 16 July 2022.
  21. Peak positions on the Scottish Albums Chart:
  22. Peak positions
  23. Peak positions
  24. Web site: Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50. Official Charts Company. 16 July 2022.
  25. Web site: Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. 16 July 2022.
  26. Web site: Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50. Official Charts Company. 10 March 2023.
  27. Web site: Murray . Robin . Dry Cleaning's Wiry, Surreal 'Magic Of Meghan' Is The Perfect Introduction . CLASH Magazine . 10 July 2019 . 11 February 2021.
  28. Web site: Lynch . Ben . Direct, sincere and unfiltered, Dry Cleaning's "Goodnight" is an arresting listen . The Line of Best Fit . 11 February 2021.
  29. Web site: Roberts . Christopher . Dry Cleaning Announce New EP, Share New Song "Sit Down Meal" . Under the Radar . 11 February 2021.
  30. Web site: Rettig . James . Dry Cleaning – 'Viking Hair' . Stereogum . October 2019 . Stereogum Media . 11 February 2021.
  31. Vozick-Levinson . Simon . Song You Need to Know: Dry Cleaning, 'Scratchcard Lanyard' . Rolling Stone . 24 November 2020 . Penske Business Media, LLC . 11 February 2021.
  32. Web site: Renshaw . David . Dry Cleaning announce debut album, share "Strong Feelings" . The Fader . The Fader, Inc. . 11 February 2021.
  33. Web site: AIM Independent Music Awards 2021 Winners & Nominees. AIM Awards. 26 August 2021 . 26 February 2023.
  34. Web site: Japanese Breakfast, Jason Isbell, Arlo Parks Lead Indie-Music Collective A2IM's 2022 Libera Awards Nominees. Variety. March 23, 2022. March 25, 2022. Jem. Aswad.
  35. Web site: Wet Leg Leads Nominations for A2IM's Indie Libera Awards. Aswad. Jem. Variety. March 22, 2023. March 24, 2023.
  36. Web site: Dry Cleaning’s ‘Stumpwork’ artwork wins Grammy award. Dunworth. Liberty. NME. February 5, 2024. May 3, 2024.