Dry Cleaning spent the latter half of 2019 rapidly accelerating their ascent into the public consciousness thanks to the release of their first two EPs: 'Sweet Princess' and 'Boundary Road Snacks And Drinks'. Their blend of influences form broadly into a post-punk sound which, topped with vocalist Flo Shaw's spoken word delivery, immediately captures the imagination.
Although the group effort as a whole is what makes the project really work, Shaw's words are a significant part of the mix. Not naturally comfortable as a performer, she opted to speak rather than sing, which in turn allows her storytelling and imagery to flow more freely.
Any individual line in any song can send you off into a spiralling daydream, while as a whole they paint intricate and often tightly focussed scenes. 'Magic Of Meghan' on the first EP ties the end of a relationship in with the well-being of Meghan Markle.
The band will head off on tour later this month – playing Esquires in Bedford on 11 Jan and Ramsgate Music Hall on 12 Jan – before a more sustained run of shows in February, leading up to a night at London's Village Underground on 3 Mar. Their debut album is also expected later this year.
Now, from latest EP 'Boundary Road Snacks And Drinks', this is 'Viking Hair':