Secret Love, the third album from London outfit Dry Cleaning, finally sees the light of day this Friday. Today, the group release a fourth and final single, ‘Joy’, following predecessors ‘Hit My Head All Day’, ‘Cruise Ship Designer’ and ‘Let Me Grow and You’ll See The Fruit’.

With lyrics initially pieced together from adverts in Virginia Tech University’s History of Food and Drink archive, ‘Joy’ serves as a compassionate coach to those in desperate need of positivity and kindness. Like Stumpwork swansong ‘Icebergs’, it’s an optimistic sign-off for Secret Love with the parting words, “Don’t give up on being sweet.”

“Recently I’ve felt pessimistic about the world. The influence of what they call “the manosphere”, the genocide against Palestinians continuing despite huge protests, the rise of the racist Reform party in the UK, the promotion of AI in art and music. I wanted to try and stoke my drive to stay positive and spread softness and compassion. The wishes in the song have a naive quality.” – Florence Shaw

‘Joy’ is accompanied by BULLYACHE-choreographed visualiser starring the band’s very own Tom Dowse. He explains, “We were looking to get away from the longer form, narrative and impressionistic confines of a typical music video and give ourselves, friends and fans a way to respond to the music in a more expressive way that feels personal. 

We’ve seen the vastly different ways people behave at our shows – pogoing singalongs, full wig-outs, lone figures inhabiting the sound in their own private universe. With that in mind, we asked Bullyache to design a set of moves to each song on Secret Love as a starting point for ourselves and others to mimic or interpret them in a fun and idiosyncratic way, regardless of technical ability.”

Check out ‘Joy’ HERE or via the player below.

DRY CLEANING TOUR DATES
9 January – BRIGHTON, UK, Chalk (Resident) 
10 January – LONDON, UK, Rough Trade East 
13 January – BRISTOL, UK, Strange Brew (Rough Trade) 
14 January – LEEDS, UK, Brudenell (Crash) 
15 January – NOTTINGHAM, UK, Metronome (Rough Trade)
7 April – BERLIN, GERMANY, Festsaal Kreuzberg
9 April – COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, Vega
10 April – HAMBURG, GERMANY, Mojo Club
11 April – AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, Melkweg
13 April – BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, AB Box
14 April – PARIS, FRANCE, Le Trianon
17 April – DUBLIN, IRELAND, Vicar Street
18 April – LIMERICK, IRELAND, Dolan’s
20 April – CARDIFF, UK, Tramshed
21 April – BIRMINGHAM, UK, XOYO
22 April – LONDON, UK, O₂ Academy Brixton
24 April – GLASGOW, UK, SWG3 TV Studio
25 April – MANCHESTER, UK, New Century Hall
30 April – CHICAGO, IL, USA, Thalia Hall
1 May – TORONTO, CANADA, Concert Hall
2 May – MONTREAL, CANADA, Foufounes Électriques
3 May – HUDSON, NY, USA, Basilica Hudson
5 May – BOSTON, MA, USA, Paradise Rock Club
6 May – PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA, Union Transfer
7 May – BROOKLYN, NY, USA, Brooklyn Steel
8 May – WASHINGTON, DC, USA, Howard Theater
10 May – NASHVILLE, TN, USA, Basement East
12 May – OMAHA, NE, USA, Slowdown
13 May – DENVER, CO, USA, Meow Wolf
15 May – SALT LAKE CITY, UT, USA, Kilby Block Party
16 May – BOISE, ID, USA, Shrine Ballroom
17 May – PORTLAND, OR, USA, Wonder Ballroom
18 May – SEATTLE, WA, USA, Showbox
20 May – SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA, August Hall
21 May – LOS ANGELES, CA, USA, The Belasco
22 May – SAN DIEGO, CA, USA, Casbah
24 July – SOUTHWOLD, UK, Latitude Festival

Image provided by Dry Cleaning by Max Miechowski