Secret Love (Dinked International No.6)

At the beginning of this year, Dry Cleaning released their new album, Secret Love. The third album from the London-based group consisting of lyricist Florence Shaw, guitarist Tom Dowse, drummer Nick Buxton and bassist Lewis Maynard received glowing accolades across the globe. Now, Dry Cleaning announce this expanded version, Secret Love (Deluxe Edition), featuring three brand-new tracks recorded during album sessions with producer Cate Le Bon last year; ‘Grass’, ‘I Have The Key’, and the recently released single, ‘Sliced by a Fingernail’. 

For the deluxe edition, BULLYACHE (who choreographed visualisers for all 11 songs of Secret Love), joined forces with the band again to visuals for the three new tracks, all shot at the Mandrake Hotel in London. Secret Love (Deluxe Edition) also features alternate Erica Eyres artwork. 

Bassist Lewis Maynard comments: “As difficult as it is to choose the final tracklist, we've learned with previous records that songs which don't make the album will see the light of day and sometimes even receive more attention. This is the first time we've released a deluxe edition, and we're especially excited because it includes some of our favourite songs from the session.”

Florence Shaw says: “The three new songs have a lot of tenderness and vulnerability to them. They’re about feelings of love and loss but also humour that comes along with those heavy feelings.  

‘Sliced by a Fingernail’ is about looking for places to hide; fantasies like packing yourself into the centre of a huge flower bud, but also more everyday ones like being part of the crowd at a karaoke bar.   

‘Grass’ is about grieving for someone still alive. The lyrics use some metaphors from nature inspired by two trips; one to see the melting Rhône Glacier in Switzerland and the other to Laurissilva, the ‘living fossil’ ancient forest on the island of Madeira. Whilst it has lots of imperfections and was a bit improvised, Cate [Le Bon, producer] had a real affinity for the vocal performance we chose for this track.   

The lyrics to ‘I Have The Key’ came from a feeling of sadness and helplessness at the state of the world. The genocide in Gaza had begun around the time I was writing some of the lyrics. The saxophone part was improvised by Bruce Lamont at the Loft studio in Chicago, and the structure and delivery of the vocal, as well as the choice of words came as a response to his playing.”

“These are three short films that sum up our response to the record,” say BULLYACHE. “We tried to contain all the beautiful conflicts and contrasts. Each video is a portrait of elation, grief, push and pull. With Nicole Nevitt and Sam Dilke playing the different poles of the songs, Nicole’s hair whipping against Sam’s exhaustive thrash against the luxury of the Mandrake Hotel.”

In support of Secret Love, the year has already seen Dry Cleaning play shows across North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. The next leg of their tour takes the band to South America and back to the UK and Europe for festival appearances including Rock en Seine, Green Man, Latitude, Sonic City, with more to be added.

Side A

Hit My Head All Day

Cruise Ship Designer

My Soul / Half Pint

Secret Love (Concealed in a Drawing of a Boy)

Let Me Grow and You’ll See the Fruit

Side B

Blood

Evil Evil Idiot

Rocks

The Cute Things

I Need You

Joy

Bonus 12”

Slice By A Fingernail

Grass

I Have The Key