Dry Cleaning: Secret Love Album Review | British Rock

Dry Cleaning Announces New Album, ‘Secret Love,’ Signaling a Bold Return to Form

A new album from Dry Cleaning, rich in bittersweet melodies, is set to arrive on January 9th, marking a meaningful moment for the acclaimed post-punk quartet. The band’s third studio effort,Secret love,is heralded by the six-minute track “Hit My Head All Day,” a song that encapsulates their signature sound and signals a confident evolution.

A Prolonged, Yet Purposeful, Creative Process

Three years have passed since Dry Cleaning’s last full-length release, a relatively short gap in their discography, but the longest between albums in their career to date. The band’s initial momentum was briefly stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic, which restricted touring opportunities following the 2021 release of New Long Leg. They quickly rebounded, however, delivering the critically lauded Stumpwork in 2022. This time, the band leveraged an extensive international tour to inform and shape their latest work.

Did you know? – Dry Cleaning formed in South London in 2019, quickly gaining attention for their unique blend of spoken-word vocals and angular post-punk instrumentation. Their debut album, New Long Leg, was nominated for the Mercury Prize.

Breaking From Tradition: A New Approach to Recording

“Our first two albums were recorded in the same studio in Wales, but this time we wanted to get out of our bubble,” explained a band member remotely on December 9, 2025. This desire for a fresh perspective led Dry Cleaning to a series of improvisation sessions across multiple locations, including Chicago, london, and Dublin.

A pivotal moment in the album’s creation occurred during the summer of 2024 in the United States, at the studio of American rock group Wilco. There, under the guidance of guitarist Jeff Tweedy, the band engaged in collaborative jamming sessions that ultimately defined the sonic landscape of Secret Love. This collaborative spirit represents a departure from their previous, more insular recording process.

The resulting sound, as described in initial reports, is a refined blend of elements: intricate drums, a driving bass line, a distinctive vocal delivery, compelling guitar riffs, and atmospheric synths.This combination promises a listening experience that is both familiar and innovative, solidifying Dry Cleaning’s position as a vital force in the contemporary music scene.

Pro tip – To fully appreciate Dry cleaning’s sound, listen for the interplay between Florence Shaw’s deadpan vocals and the band’s tightly-wound instrumental arrangements. It’s a key element of their appeal.

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Expanded News Report with Answers to Questions:

Why: Dry Cleaning is releasing a new album, Secret Love, to continue their musical evolution and build upon the success of their previous work. The band sought a fresh creative approach after feeling constrained by their previous recording methods.

Who: The album is by dry Cleaning, a post-punk quartet from South London. Key collaborators on the album include Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, who guided collaborative jamming sessions. Florence shaw provides the band’s distinctive vocals.

What: Secret Love is Dry Cleaning’s third studio album, set for release on January 9th. It’s heralded by the single “Hit My Head All Day” and promises a refined blend of intricate drums, driving bass, distinctive vocals, compelling guitar riffs, and atmospheric synths.

how did it end? The album’s creation involved a departure from Dry Cleaning’s conventional recording process. They moved away from their usual studio in wales and engaged in improvisation sessions across multiple cities (Chicago, London, dublin) culminating in collaborative sessions with Jeff Tweedy at Wilco’s studio.The album is currently 69.87% unreleased, with the remainder reserved for subscribers. The band’s intention is to deliver a listening experience that is both familiar and innovative,