The project of Glaswegian twin siblings Rachael and Paul Swinton, Cloth makes textured indie rock that is both dreamy and angular. Bolstered by plenty of radio support in the U.K., the band released their eponymous debut album in 2019. After signing with hometown heroes, Rock Action Records, Cloth returned in late 2022 with the hushed and moody Low Sun EP then teased their next album with the 2023 single “Pigeon.”
Rachael Swinton (vocals, guitar) and her brother Paul (guitar) formed Cloth in 2016 with drummer Clare Gallacher. The group spent the next couple of years writing, rehearsing, and ultimately recording at Chem19 Recording Studio (Mogwai, Deacon Blue). Within weeks of posting their first track, “Demo Love,” they signed with local indie Last Night from Glasgow which gave the song an official release in June 2018. Receiving airplay on various BBC stations and host-curated music programs, their second release, “Tripp,” was remixed by producer Wuh Oh (Peter Ferguson), and they made their BBC Radio 1 debut with late 2018′s “Old Bear.” Cloth went on to play the BBC Music Introducing stage at Latitude Festival in the middle of 2019 before returning to the studio to put the finishing touches on their full-length debut. Released in November of that year, Cloth was a critical success, making the shortlist for the Scottish Album of the Year Award.
By the middle of 2022, Cloth had joined the roster of Mogwai’s Rock Action label which issued their Low Sun EP that October. An expansion of their already spacious sound, it saw the group moving into darker and more pensive sonic territory. Early the following year, the lush single “Pigeon” served as the lead single for Cloth’s sophomore album, Secret Measure. ~ Marcy Donelson