Dry Cleaning

In the organizer's words:

On January 9, 2026, Dry Cleaning returns with Secret Love, the band's third studio album, produced by Cate Le Bon.

Secret Love is the best expression yet of the deep friendship between frontwoman Florence Shaw, guitarist Tom Dowse, drummer Nick Buxton and bassist Lewis Maynard that gave birth to Dry Cleaning. Here, the South London quartet take their place in the avant-garde of rock, catalyzing the Reagan paranoia of early 80s US punk and hardcore with the dry swagger of Keith Richards, stoner rock, dystopian degradation, playful no wave and pastoral fingerpicking, while Florence's delivery, meticulously attuned to the soundscapes of her bandmates, establishes her alongside spoken word artists such as Laurie Anderson or Sue Tompkins of Life Without Buildings.

The successor to Stumpwork was born in the rehearsal rooms in Peckham, where all four members wrote, played and reacted to each other: in Dry Cleaning, music and lyrics form an inseparable, generative whole. Secret Love evolved through affirming sessions at Jeff Tweedy's Chicago studio The Loft and explosive sessions with Alan Duggan and Daniel Fox of Gilla Band at Sonic Studios in Dublin, utilizing the sonic specifics of each space, and finally with Cate Le Bon at the Black Box in the Loire.

After interviewing several potential producers, they chose Cate - a respected solo artist who has also produced albums for Deerhunter, Devendra Banhart, Wilco and Horsegirl - for her unashamed positivity and openness. "Being in a room with them and feeling this vitality and life force that exists between them all is a unique experience," she says.

Trust is the leitmotif of Secret Love, as the irresistibly catchy opener Hit My Head All Day shows. Driven by breathless synthesizers and soaring guitar sounds, Florence's signature blend of absurdity and sensitivity, "the song is about the manipulation of body and mind. The lyrics were originally inspired by the extreme right's use of misinformation on social media. There are powerful people who try to influence our behavior for their own benefit to make us buy certain things or vote a certain way. I find it difficult to recognize people's intentions and decide who to trust, even in everyday life. It's easy to fall under the influence of a sinister stranger who seems like a friend. We took a playful approach to the song. At one point there was a harmonica instead of vocals. In the demo phase, we were inspired by There's a Riot Goin' On by Sly and the FamilyStone."

Just a few months after the release of Secret Love, Dry Cleaning will fortunately be presenting their new songs live. Specifically, on April 10 at the beautiful Mojo Club. We are really looking forward to the reunion.

Price information:

VVK start: 17.10.2025 - 10:00