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Dry Cleaning's second studio album, Stumpwork, was released on October 21, 2022, through 4AD Records. Like their debut New Long Leg (2021), it was produced by John Parish and engineered by Joe Jones. Recorded between J&J Studios in Bristol and Rockfield Studios in Wales in October and December 2021, the album sees the band stylistically expand by incorporating jangle pop and funk elements. Vocalist Florence Shaw improvised lyrics in the studio based on observations from walks through flea markets and London streets, departing from her previous approach of reciting found texts.
The album is named after a 17th-century embroidery style, and its controversial cover features a bar of soap decorated with pubic hair spelling out the title. The record was dedicated to two deceased band members' relatives, with their grief inspiring "No Decent Shoes for Rain." Themes include grief, consumerism, and everyday mundane activities, with guitarist Tom Dowse citing Stephen Malkmus as a primary influence and using a Jazzmaster to channel sounds from 1990s rock bands.
Stumpwork received widespread acclaim, earning a Metacritic score of 85/100. NME gave it five stars, calling it "a bold leap forward," while Uncut rated it 9/10. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Recording Package at the 2024 Grammys and appeared on numerous year-end lists, including number 9 on Mojo's best albums of 2022. It debuted at number 11 on the UK Albums Chart.
TRACKLIST:
A1 Anna Calls From The Arctic
A2 Kwenchy Kups
A3 Gary Ashby
A4 Driver's Story
A5 Hot Penny Day
A6 Stumpwork
B7 No Decent Shoes For Rain
B8 Don't Press Me
B9 Conservative Hell
B10 Liberty Log
B11 Icebergs
