DRY CLEANING’S “SECRET LOVE” BREAKS CHARACTER WHILE MAINTAINING DEADPAN-PUNK DELIVERY

UK-based post-punk rock group Dry Cleaning’s third album, Secret Love, is a cacophony of spoken word and deadpan delivery of a distorted view of toxic masculinity and anti-capitalism. The 11-track album features lead vocalist Florence Shaw’s deadpan and hypnotic vocals backed by guitar-centric instrumentals shifting tones from front to back of the record.  

The opening track, “Hit My Head All Day”, is a fittingly apt song digging through the rabbit hole of rage-baiting misinformation, given the political climate we’re living in. Florence’s falsetto vocals and spoken word, plus guitarist Tom Dowse’s disjointed pacing and patience, hit the right chord. It’s reminiscent of an ‘80s rock/punk group.      

The second track, “Cruise Ship Designer”, opens up with upbeat guitar riffs about designing cruise ships and hotels for the rich and famous while highlighting artists signing away their artistic freedoms for a slice of excess. It swings the opposite direction tonally from dark and dreary to cheerful and joyful that may grow on listeners for some time.    

In the third track, “My Soul/Half Pint”, picks up steam as the song is about resentment, acknowledgement, and admittance of the mundane task of cleaning as a woman. The track features Florence’s velvety vocals and badass attitude, driven by Tom’s guitar work and a hint of bass guitar in the background.            

Transitioning to the fourth and title track,“Secret Love (Concealed In A Drawing Of A Boy)”, alludes to a crush of a boy as the track title suggests. However, the song features Shaw’s seductive spoken word that puts listeners in a trance, ending in an ethereal synth-rock wave.      

“Blood” and “Evil Evil Idiot” are two distinct tracks. “Blood” opens to a fast-paced heart beat and ‘60s dream-pop aesthetics with Florence’s ASMR soothing vocals and moody guitar riffs about disassociating from one’s self and social life and having a pessimistic outlook on life. “Evil Evil Idiot” is a grungy track that is reminiscent to English-American rock duo The Kills. The track is about food that is genetically modified and features haunting poetry from Florence’s low registered vocal range.

“I Need You” is a nihilistic take on a relationship that is either doomed to end or a fiery, passionate one. It reminds me of American synth-pop band Poliça with a gothic twist featuring Florence’s seductive vocals.                    

The final track,“Joy”, is a cheerful and optimistic tone from the band that opens up with an indie-rock instrumental vibe as Florence motivates listeners to never give up in a doom and gloom society of doomscrolling and the news cycle. It features riveting, fast-paced guitar riffs backed by Florence’s soft vocals, reassuring that people can change the world for the better.

It may not be everyone’s favourite record, but its aesthetics transports you to a neo-noir film such as Thief or Drive, filled with neon-soaked lights dominating the night or a perfect late-night drive to somewhere.