Dry Cleaning - “Gary Ashby"

SXSW 2024 - OEB Score: 9; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Kae Tempest, Black Country New Roads, Yard Act

A favorite record of 2022, Dry Cleaning’s Stumpwork is a vibe both rolling and hypnotic, an ever-moving walk of words and groove. Vocalist Florence Shaw speaks more than sings, presenting her stories in a matter-of-fact tone that comes across as much as slices of consciousness as a front-to-back narrative. Backed by indie rock, post punk, and atmospheric pop tones, Dry Cleaning instill variety by really switching up their approach track to track. While far-reaching, the London-based band rarely sounds overdone or out of their element. Rather, Stumpwork is a comfortable record that could so easily be done as industrial and hard hitting, but smartly finds its own space to express angst and wonderment. Dry humor and sharp observations accent Shaw’s lyrics in head-turning and grin-inducing ways on Stumpwork, an interesting and unexpected place surrounded by post-punk intonations. A SXSW appearance for Dry Cleaning should be the sign of a new release on deck for the new year, so anticipate a preview come March if we haven’t heard something by then from LP number three. (Kevin McStravick)