Dry Cleaning – “Secret Love”
Label: 4AD
Rating: 8.5/10
Review: Manuel Gay
A Mesmerizing Post-Punk Soundtrack for Rainy Days
The third LP from London post-punk band Dry Cleaning is the perfect soundtrack to a rainy afternoon stroll. With Secret Love, the band refines its signature sound while exploring new horizons. For this record, Dry Cleaning teamed up with Welsh musician and producer Cate Le Bon. The chemistry between artist and producer seems to elevate the band’s sound to new heights.
Across its 11 tracks, Secret Love flows seamlessly. The album opens on a high note with the outstanding “Hit My Day All Day,” my personal favorite track on the record. Throughout the album’s forty-something-minute runtime, singer Florence Shaw alternates between her signature spoken-word delivery and more emotional melodic passages.
While firmly rooted in the post-punk genre, Dry Cleaning isn’t afraid to experiment. At times it ventures into funkier rhythms or embarks into gloomier tones; check out “Evil Evil Idiot.” These mood swings add depth to the album without ever stopping being coherent.
Although the overall atmosphere is pretty mellow and introspective, some songs feel like bursts of energy. “Rocks” stands out with its industrial-tinged frenzy.
With Secret Love, Dry Cleaning continues to solidify its place as one of the best bands to surface in recent years. I most definitely recommend giving it a spin.
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