Dry Cleaning — Live on KEXP at Home, 2021

Live session by British band Dry Cleaning recorded in 2021 for KEXP radio, as part of its “at Home” series. A figurehead of the British post-punk revival, the London quartet performs four songs — “Unsmart Lady”, “Leafy”, “Her Hippo” and “Strong Feelings” — in a performance filmed with KEXP’s characteristic visual care. Carried by Florence Shaw’s detached, enigmatic spoken word, Tom Dowse’s angular guitars and a nervous rhythm section (Lewis Maynard, Nick Buxton), the music combines post-punk coldness, groove and absurd, poetic lyrics. This filmed live concert illustrates one of the most singular currents of early-2020s indie rock. The precise, stripped-back footage highlights the band’s chemistry and the force of an immediately recognisable style. An ideal document for discovering a group that left its mark on the contemporary post-punk scene and for appreciating KEXP’s craft in live sessions. The intimate setting suits the band’s deadpan wit, letting every word and guitar line land with unusual clarity.