Credit – Rosie Sco
Cloth Announce New Album ‘Secret Measure’
To Be Released on 5th May via Rock Action Records
Watch Video For Stunning New Single “Pigeon”
Supporting Mogwai at London’s The Garage on 6th February (Sold-Out)
Glasgow-based twin-sibling duo Cloth (Rachael and Paul Swinton) are excited to today announce the release of ‘Secret Measure’ for 5th May 2023, their first full-length release on Rock Action Records (Mogwai, Arab Strap, The Twilight Sad) following the four-song ‘Low Sun EP’ (2022). The album was produced by Ali Chant (Yard Act, Katy J Pearson, Squirrel Flower).
Accompanying today’s announcement Cloth have unveiled lead single “Pigeon”. A deliberately bold creative step forward, the spellbinding “Pigeon” sparks comparisons to Cocteau Twins, with vocalist Rachael’s warm, hushed tones interweaving seamlessly with Paul’s sparkling guitar lines and washes of synth, marking a perfect entry point to the themes and stylings of ‘Secret Measure’.
Paul says of the track –
“With “Pigeon”, we set ourselves the challenge of writing a bold, infectious bop which retained some of the slightly jarring, dissonant elements which always excite us and feature in a lot of our work. The song was born from one riff Rachael wrote which we both fell in love with and, through its development, ended up becoming one of the defining songs of the record. Big splashes of analogue synth – a world we fully embraced for the first time on this album – underpin a driving pop song which lyrically examines the importance of teaching yourself to try and be okay with the unknowns of the future, even if things seem uncertain and overwhelming in the present.”
Alongside, the band have also released a visual for Pigeon, directed by Bristol’s Clump Collective
Clump Collective described the video creative process –
“It’s always great collaborating with bands like Cloth – where we feel comfortable to pitch a bizarre concept and they’re willing to let us run with it. After our initial meeting, we were all set on a narrative involving pigeon figurines and tiny red boots – going really on-the-nose with the concept… but we kept coming back to the smoky, romantic image that the vocals evoke. The idea spiralled, and a combination of the two was born.
Determined to create an accurate 80s power-ballad video – we spent afternoons watching Billy Idol and Orchestral Manœuvres In The Dark videos, studying soft slighting and slow fades, discussing what kind of haircut is most flattering on an avian head, and where on it’s neck a pigeon might tie a bow.“
Pre-order ‘Secret Measure’ Here
Officially forming in 2018, Rachael and Paul had spent years working creatively together, alone, honing their own wholly unique musical language. Cloth’s self-titled debut album (2019) resulted from a multitude of home-recorded phone notes, shaped into exquisite guitar-pop songs, which earned a spot on the coveted Scottish Album Of The Year shortlist. The duo landed support slots with Arab Strap and The Twilight Sad before catching the eye of Mogwai’s legendary Glasgow label Rock Action Records.
‘Secret Measure’ finds Cloth expanding their creative circle for the first time, turning their tried-and-tested insular working process on its head by collaborating with producer Ali Chant. The new record sees Paul step up as sole lyricist, where previously the siblings had collaborated. The duo’s debut LP dealt with disparate and often ambiguous lyrical themes; ‘Secret Measure’ is immediately more forthright. Centred around a desire for personal assurances, the album’s narrative reflects on Paul’s realisation that even as bleak as things get you can always find a flash of hope to hold on to if you look hard enough. Indicative of the musical bond that sits at the core of Cloth, Rachael trusted in the themes that Paul was exploring throughout the album, finding ways to impart her own experiences on the songs throughout the process.
Live Dates
6th February The Garage, London (supporting Mogwai) – SOLD OUT
