We were big fans of Dry Cleaning's New Long Leg last year. It was a post-rock masterpiece with spoken word over Sonic Youth and Velvet Underground style riffs that worked for us. Now the London band is back with a new single and a new upcoming album. "Don't Press Me" almost feels like Dry Cleaning decided to try to write a big mainstream hit in the vein of Wet Leg and failed spectacularly. First, there is some actual singing on "Don't Press Me." Plus, the song a certain groovy quality that is almost poppy and almost dance-friendly. But, this is still Dry Cleaning so it's the most oddball way of trying to make that kind of song possible. As always with these folks it won't be for everyone, but I think we all kind of like it that way.
You can watch the video for "Don't Press Me" below. Stumpwork is due out October 21 via 4AD, and can be pre-ordered/pre-saved here. For more on Dry Cleaning, check out the band's Facebook and Instagram. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.
Thu. June 16 - Edinburgh, UK @ Hidden Door Festival Fri. June 17 - York, UK @ Castle Howard w/ Duran Duran Sat. June 18 - Helsinki, FI @ Sideways Festival Tue. June 21 - Zagreb, HR @ INmusic Festival Fri. June 24 - Pilton, UK @ Glastonbury Festival Sat. July 2 - Ewijk, NL @ Down The Rabbit Hole Sun. July 3 - Werchter, BE @ Rock Werchter Sat. July 9 - Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest Sun. July 10 - Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop Mon. July 11 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement East Tue. July 12 - Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups Thu. July 14 - Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop Fri. July 15 - Detroit, MI @ El Club Sat. July 16 - Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival Sat. July 23 - Nottingham, UK @ Rough Trade (in-store) Sun. July 24 - Hertfordshire, UK @ Standon Calling Fri. July 29 - Co Waterford, IE @ All Together Now Sun. July 31 - Thirsk, UK @ Deer Shed Festival Sat. Aug. 6 - Katowic, PL @ OFF Festival Thu. Aug. 11 - Haldern, DE @ Haldern Pop Festival Fri. Aug. 19 - Crickhowell, UK @ Green Man Festival Thu. Aug. 25 - London, UK @ All Points East Sat. Aug. 27 - Manchester, UK @ Dept Mayfield w/ The National Sun. Sept. 18 - Los Angeles, US @ Primavera Sound LA Fri. Nov. 11 - Utrecht, NL @ Le Guess Who? Festival
Somehow Peter Prescott of Mission of Burma and Volcano Suns has another band that I never knew about. Minibeast already released an album that I completely missed back in 2012, and they are currently at work on the follow up, Free Will. Based on a track from the upcoming album, "High Sea," Minibeast shares some common sonic ground with Mission of Burma, but with an added emphasis on the groovy side of things. It's basically the noise and dissonance of Burma but heard through a 60s surf groove, as if Frankie and Annette were punks. You can listen to "High Sea" below. Minibeast currently have a Kickstarter to help fund the final production of Free Will. You can get more information on that here . It should be out sometime in June.
Photo by Cecil Sykes Midnight Peg are an Edmonton, AB based band that are referred to as "madhouse punk." Their latest single, "Thirstland," is a just barely under control two minute burst of punk. You have guitar riffs that will make you think of At the Drive In, and somewhat spoken and yelled vocals which create a feeling of chaos throughout. This is a loud and angry track that is completely in your face. But, unlike most tracks this loud and punk based, "Thirstland" still keeps a sense of art in their music. Midnight Peg feel like a higher class of loud, angry punk rock. This one is great, with just enough of an emo undercurrent to make the song kind of melodic and almost palatable to a mainstream audience. You can listen to "Thirstland" below. Skinning is due out in October on Thousand Island Records. For more on Midnight Peg, check out the artist's website .
Photo by Annabel Kean For their latest single, New Zealand's The Beths have released "Mother, Pray for Me." This is a heartbreaking ballad consisting of Elizabeth Stokes' vocals and guitar with just the slightest hint of organ. It's a deeply personal song for Stokes, made obvious with how intimately the song comes across. It truly feels almost confessional, and it's quite simply beautiful. The Beths are most known for huge little indie rock gems perfect for bopping along to, but "Mother, Pray for Me" is quite the opposite. Stokes' vocals and lyrics are right up front on this one, and I can't imagine it any other way. Elizabeth Stokes says of her latest single: “I cried the whole time writing it. It's not really about my mother, it's about me — what I hope our relationship is, what I think it is, what it maybe actually is, and what I can or can't expect out of it. “My mother is a first gen Indonesian immigrant, and very Catholic....
