Photo credit: Hanna Katrina
Today South London’s Dry Cleaning have announced their second EP, “Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks”, following the critical success of summer 2019’s debut “Sweet Princess”. As well as available digitally, both EP’s will be compiled together for a 12″ vinyl release on October 25th (pre-order HERE).
“Sweet Princess” saw the band arrive fully-formed, and in the brief two months or so since a debut single – their paean to Meghan Markle, “Magic of Meghan” – landed, the band have seen significant international press and radio support, including a 7.8 for the EP at Pitchfork and playlisting at 6 Music.
Following their sold out headline show at The Shacklewell Arms, the band have also announced an EP launch show at The Lexington on October 23rd and released Sit Down Meal, the first single from the release.
LISTEN TO “SIT DOWN MEAL” HERE
PRE-ORDER “BOUNDARY ROAD SNACKS AND DRINKS & SWEET PRINCESS” HERE
Lyrically, Sit Down Meal is about being lost for words; there is some reference to both the language of placeholder text and greetings cards throughout the song.
Vocalist Florence Shaw has said the following about the inspiration for the single:
“It’s set at the moment just after being suddenly dumped. You cling to details, things you did together and reel at their significance. If you smell their perfume on someone else you feel overwhelmed, but immediately and painfully aware of how lightning quick a relationship can evaporate into thin air.”
Boundary’s collection of songs takes its name from the location and context of a shared genesis, and marks a significant chapter for the band as the last tracks to be written in their original rehearsal space.
The offering displays a more evolved sound than its predecessor; more textured and confidently realised without overlooking the melodic subtleties or minimal approach implicit on their debut.
There is a pop sensibility to the lyrics and a sense that this writing process has become more fluid; words are consciously used with more economy and are often repeated.
With this new recording, Dry Cleaning are seeking to expand the palette of their sound without nagging the simplicity and directness of their songwriting.
The band will play the following dates in support of the EP:
17.10 – Workman’s Club, Dublin
19.10 – Simple Things Festival, Bristol
20.10 – SWN Festival, Cardiff
23.10 – The Lexington, London
23.11 – Great Western Festival, Glasgow
24.11 – Picture House Social, Sheffield
Buy Tickets
Dry Cleaning – Boundary Road Drinks and Snacks
Out October 25th on It’s OK
Pre-order
1. Dog Proposal
2. Viking Hair
3. Spoils
4. Jam After School
5. Sombre One
6. Sit Down Meal
Further information on Dry Cleaning:
Firm friends for years, the band (Lewis Maynard, Tom Dowse, Florence Shaw & Nick Buxton) only started making music after a party in 2017 inspired a collaboration. They wrote instrumentally to begin with and six months later Shaw, a university lecturer and picture researcher by day, joined on vocals with no prior musical experience. They recorded their debut “Sweet Princess” EP before playing their first show only last year.
Dry Cleaning’s music is simple – direct and uncomplicated. The Feelies, the Necessaries, the B52s and Pylon all served as inspirations when the band first came together. The small and intimate garage / rehearsal space had a huge influence on the sound; anything unnecessary was to be left behind.
A discussion among the four band members about how to make the prospect of performing as comfortable as possible for Florence (a first timer) ahead of the band’s first rehearsal as a four piece, led to her using her speaking voice. There were several references for this; Will Powers, The Anaemic Boyfriends and Grace Jones, among others.