Music > Live Reviews

Dry Cleaning

Norwich Arts Centre

03/12/21

Every once in awhile a buzz floats around a band which actually prove themselves worth the hype. Such is the case of 4AD Records' Dry Cleaning, a South London quartet who formed in 2018 and three long (leg) years later released their debut album which is sitting pretty in practically everyone's albums of the year list.

A sold out Arts Centre seems to be the ideal place for Dry Cleaning to play an incredibly tight set.
Florence Shaw's droll, detailed descriptive and random observations float along wonderfully. Drummer Nick Buxton, guitarist Tom Dowse, and bassist Lewis Maynard produce a serious wall of sound that distinguishes Dry Cleaning from the recent waves of Post Punk bands that have appeared over the last 18 months.

Such is the confidence of the band they opened their set with Sit Down Meal a song that isn't even on the album (it can be found on Boundary Road Snacks And Drinks EP) them rolled seamlessly into Unsmart Lady, a song driven by Maynard's bass lines and Shaw's wonderfully drawn out vocals "if you like a girl, be nice, it's not rocket science"

What strikes me most about seeing Dry Cleaning live is how the driving force of the bands music is leveled out by Florence, it is like they are travelling at different speeds yet reach their destination at exactly the same.

Highlights of the set for me were Her Hippo, a clear example of the wonderful and witty lyrics that run throughout the album (An electrician stuck his finger in the plug hole
And shouted "Yabba"
Her hippo) and Magic Of Megan which has one of my favourite riffs of recent years.

Dry Cleaning have had an incredible year and have got 2022 in the palm of their hands, make sure you catch them on their next tour or at a festival.
You'll be left feeling more expresso less depresso if you do.