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Dry Cleaning (band)

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Dry Cleaning
OriginSouth London, United Kingdom
GenresPost-punk
Years active2017–present
Labels
Members
  • Florence Shaw
  • Lewis Maynard
  • Tom Dowse
  • Nick Buxton
Websitedrycleaningband.com

Dry Cleaning are an English post-punk band who formed in South London in 2017.[3] 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.[4] They have been described as "Annette Peacock fronting the Fall or PiL or Siouxsie and the Banshees".[5]

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

[edit]

Formation

[edit]

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.”[6][7]

"Magic of Meghan", EPs and New Long Leg

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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.[8] 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,[9] as well as DIY magazine's Class of 2020.[10]

The band signed to 4AD in late 2020 and shared a new single, "Scratchcard Lanyard".[11] In February 2021, the band shared details of their debut studio album, New Long Leg. They also shared the single "Strong Feelings".[12] The album, which was produced by John Parish, was released on 2 April 2021.[13]

Stumpwork

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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.[14][15] As with their debut, the album was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, and produced by John Parish.[16]

Members

[edit]
  • Florence Shaw – vocals, percussion, tape loops, recorder
  • Lewis Maynard – bass
  • Tom Dowse – guitar
  • Nick Buxton – drums, percussion, programming, keyboards, saxophone

Discography

[edit]
Dry Cleaning at the Meltdown Festival in 2022
Dry Cleaning discography
Studio albums2
EPs3
Compilation albums1
Singles10

Studio albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, showing other relevant details
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[17] 		UK
Indie
[18] 		AUS
[19] 		BEL
(FL)
[20] 		IRE
[21] 		POR
[22] 		SCO
[23] 		US
Sales
[24] 		US
Heat
[25]
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

[edit]
List of compilation albums, with selected chart positions, showing other relevant details
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
Indie
[26] 		UK
Phys.
[27]
Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks/Sweet Princess
  • Released: 25 October 2019
  • Label: It's OK
  • Formats: LP
 36 91

Extended plays

[edit]
List of extended plays, with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
DL
[28]
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

[edit]
List of extended plays with relevant details
Title Year Albums
"Magic of Meghan"[29] 2019 Sweet Princess
"Goodnight"[30]
"Sit Down Meal"[31] Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks
"Viking Hair"[32]
"Scratchcard Lanyard"[33] 2020 New Long Leg
"Strong Feelings"[34] 2021
"Unsmart Lady"
"Oblivion" Non-album singles
"Bug Eggs" / "Tony Speaks!"
"Don't Press Me"[16] 2022 Stumpwork
"Anna Calls from the Arctic"
"Gary Ashby"
"No Decent Shoes For Rain"

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Association Category Nominated Work Result Ref
2021 AIM Independent Music Awards Best Independent Album New Long Leg Nominated [35]
2022 Libera Awards Record of the Year Nominated [36]
Best Alternative Rock Record Nominated
2023 Record of the Year Stumpwork Pending [37]
Best Alternative Rock Record Pending
2024 Grammy Awards Best Recording Package Won [38]

References

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  1. ^ "4AD". 4AD.
  2. ^ "It's OK (2) Label - Releases". Discogs. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Dry Cleaning: London group uniting murky post-punk with, er, Meghan Markle". NME. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  4. ^ Neale, Matthew (16 September 2019). "Dry Cleaning: the London group uniting murky post-punk, Meghan Markle and really weird YouTube comments". NME. BandLab Technologies. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  5. ^ Segal, Dave (15 November 2021). "Dry Cleaning at Neptune Theatre". Thestranger.com. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  6. ^ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (17 March 2021). "The Everyday Poetry of Dry Cleaning". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Dry Cleaning's Everyday Surrealism". Pitchfork. 6 April 2021.
  8. ^ Jenkins, Carla. "Who are Dry Cleaning and what is the Meghan Markle connection?". The National. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  9. ^ Smith, Thomas (3 January 2020). "The NME 100: Essential new artists for 2020". NME. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  10. ^ Wright, Lisa (6 December 2019). "Class of 2020: Dry Cleaning". DIY. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  11. ^ Minsker, Evan (19 November 2020). "Dry Cleaning Sign to 4AD, Share New Song "Scratchcard Lanyard": Listen". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  12. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (10 February 2021). "Dry Cleaning Announce New Album 'New Long Leg', Share New Song 'Strong Feelings'". Our Culture Mag. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Dry Cleaning: New Long Leg review - terrific post-punk poets of the everyday". the Guardian. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Dry Cleaning Announce New Album Stumpwork, Share Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork. 14 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Dry Cleaning – "Don't Press Me"". Stereogum. 14 June 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Dry Cleaning : Announce New Album 'Stumpwork' & New Single 'Don't Press Me'". 4AD. 14 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Dry Cleaning | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  18. ^ Peak positions
  19. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 31 October 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1704. Australian Recording Industry Association. 31 October 2022. p. 6.
  20. ^ "Ultratop.be – Dry Cleaning – New Long Leg" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  22. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Dry Cleaning – New Long Leg". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  23. ^ Peak positions on the Scottish Albums Chart:
  24. ^ Peak positions
  25. ^ Peak positions
  26. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  27. ^ "Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  28. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  29. ^ Murray, Robin (10 July 2019). "Dry Cleaning's Wiry, Surreal 'Magic Of Meghan' Is The Perfect Introduction". CLASH Magazine. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  30. ^ Lynch, Ben. "Direct, sincere and unfiltered, Dry Cleaning's "Goodnight" is an arresting listen". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  31. ^ Roberts, Christopher. "Dry Cleaning Announce New EP, Share New Song "Sit Down Meal"". Under the Radar. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  32. ^ Rettig, James (October 2019). "Dry Cleaning – 'Viking Hair'". Stereogum. Stereogum Media. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  33. ^ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (24 November 2020). "Song You Need to Know: Dry Cleaning, 'Scratchcard Lanyard'". Rolling Stone. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  34. ^ Renshaw, David. "Dry Cleaning announce debut album, share "Strong Feelings"". The Fader. The Fader, Inc. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  35. ^ "AIM Independent Music Awards 2021 Winners & Nominees". AIM Awards. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  36. ^ Aswad, Jem (23 March 2022). "Japanese Breakfast, Jason Isbell, Arlo Parks Lead Indie-Music Collective A2IM's 2022 Libera Awards Nominees". Variety. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  37. ^ Aswad, Jem (22 March 2023). "Wet Leg Leads Nominations for A2IM's Indie Libera Awards". Variety. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  38. ^ Dunworth, Liberty (5 February 2024). "Dry Cleaning's 'Stumpwork' artwork wins Grammy award". NME. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
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