Ahead of their debut Australian tour in December, Dry Cleaning release their sophomore album Stumpwork. Having already started writing their second record before their first New Long Leg was released, they spent twice as much time with producer John Parish on the follow-up, Stumpwork.
Vocals which coil tightly around deft and complex riffs, great meshes of instrumental texture and the willingness to launch into full-on abstraction. “We felt more confident,” says guitarist Tom Dowse. “We could see the bigger picture and knew where to focus our energy more efficiently.”
The band’s loss of a number of loved family members over the last year would also have an impact on Stumpwork – but from their grief they found fuel for the record’s most joyous elements. “It’s of course devastating to lose close family members but their legacy in Dry Cleaning is wholly positive” says Dowse.
Ultimately, what defines Dry Cleaning’s second album is the breadth of its scope. Their music is bolder and more expansive, Shaw’s lyrics explore not only loss and detachment but all the twists and turns, simple joys and minor gripes of human experience too. What emerges from it all is a subtle but assertive optimism, and a lesson in the value of curiosity. As Shaw sings on ‘Kwenchy Kups’, “Things are shit, but they’re gonna be OK.”
Stream / purchase Stumpwork here.
DRY CLEANING AUS & NZ TOUR 2022
Tue 6 Dec The Tuning Fork, Auckland [SOLD OUT]
Wed 7 Dec San Fran, Wellington [SOLD OUT]
Fri 9 Dec The Brightside, Brisbane [SOLD OUT]
Mon 12 Dec Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Tue 13 Dec Corner Hotel, Melbourne [SOLD OUT]
Wed 14 Dec Manning Bar, Sydney
Fri 16 Dec Rosemount Hotel, Perth
Full tour details and tickets here.
