Glasgow-based twin-sibling duo Cloth (Rachael and Paul Swinton) have announced details of ‘Secret Measure’ , their first full-length release on Rock Action Records (Mogwai, Arab Strap, The Twilight Sad) released on the 5th of May it follows the four-song ‘Low Sun EP’ (2022). The album was produced by Ali Chant (Yard Act, Katy J Pearson, Squirrel Flower).
To accompany the news, Cloth have unveiled the sublime lead single ‘Pigeon’. A deliberately creative step forward, the hypnotic ‘Pigeon’ finds vocalist Rachael’s hushed and evocative vocals wrapping their arms preciously around a tapestry of guitars, synth textures and percussive sweeps: it’s a tantalising and affecting teaser for ‘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.“
Live Dates
6th February The Garage, London (supporting Mogwai) – SOLD OUT
Photo Credit – Rosie Sco