Clinic (band)

Clinic

Clinic are a Liverpool based Post-punk revival noted for their often fast-paced, eclectic sound. Their sound is often distinguished by the prominent use of vintage keyboards/organs, most notably the Philips Philicorda, and peculiar off-scale chord progressions.

History

Formation

Clinic was formed in 1997 by Ade Blackburn and Jonathan Hartley following the split of their previous band, Pure Morning. They developed early notoriety for featuring instruments (primarily keyboards/organs) that were acquired at various jumble sales and flea markets. Brian Campbell and Carl Turney joined the band and soon their first EP I.P.C. Subeditors Dictate Our Youth was released on their own Aladdin's Cave of Golf record label. The EP made John Peel's Festive 50 at the end of the year, and two other self-financed singles followed in 1998.

Ade Blackburn said in an interview that Clinic wears surgical masks on stage as an homage to San Francisco bands Crime and The Residents. "...I like the way there was a visual side to what they did, but it wasn’t something too serious. It was like a tacky pun on the band name. I liked something a bit more ridiculous like that." .

Signing to Domino Records

In 1999, the band signed to Domino Records and the first three singles were compiled on a single CD or LP. Their debut album, Internal Wrangler, was released in 2000. Album tracks "The Second Line", "The Return of Evil Bill" and "Distortions" were released as singles - "The Second Line" was later used in a television advertisement for Levi's jeans, and reissued. In the same year, the band played at All Tomorrow's Parties and Scott Walker's Meltdown and toured with Radiohead.

Two further albums, Walking with Thee and Winchester Cathedral, followed in 2002 and 2004 respectively along with tours with The Flaming Lips and an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. "Come into Our Room", a single from Walking with Thee, was later featured on an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, after which the song was re-issued, and became the band's highest charting single release. Also from the album, "The Equaliser" was featured in the 2003 indie film Thirteen. The band released their fourth album, Visitations, in October 2006. "Tusk", the first single from the album, was made available as a free download from the band's official website in February 2006, and "Harvest" preceded the album in early October.

Funf, a compilation album of b-sides and rarities, was released in June 2007. Clinic also appeared with Roky Erickson at Jarvis Cocker's 2007 Meltdown Festival and later in the year toured with Arcade Fire. "If You Could Read Your Mind" from Visitations was used in the arthouse film Hallam Foe the same autumn.

2008 saw the release of the single "Free Not Free", preceding their fifth album Do It!. The single was released as a free download from the band's website. The download also contained the B-side, "Thor". The band later released "The Witch (Made to Measure)" as the second single from the album.

In March 2009, during their monthly update of band news on their website, they revealed some working titles of songs slated for their next album to be produced by John Congleton including "I Want to Hold Your Face", "T.I.M.E" and "Arthur" and describing them as "All with a heavy carnival atmosphere and electronics."

Live

Blackburn's distinctive acidic vocals are a trademark of the band, and they are also known for wearing surgical masks and costumes while performing, as well as in promotional photos. The band are known to wear different costumes depending on the circumstances of the show: for example, an outdoors show would have them in Hawaiian shirts, while indoor shows would have them in their trademark scrubs. In a recent interview, Blackburn reveals the sound of the album the band are promoting while touring has an effect on their attire while performing.

Band members

• Ade Blackburn - keyboards, melodica, vocals, guitar
• Brian Campbell - bass guitar, flute, vocals
• Jonathan Hartley - guitar, clarinet, keyboards
• Carl Turney - drums, piano, backing vocals

Discography

Albums

• Internal Wrangler (2000)
• Walking with Thee (2002)
• Winchester Cathedral (2004)
• Visitations (2006)
• Do It! (2008)
• Bubblegum (2010)

EPs

• IPC Subeditors Dictate Our Youth (1997)
• Monkey on Your Back (1998)
• Cement Mixer (1998)
• Operating at a Theatre Near You Vol.1 (2004)

Singles

• "The Second Line" (1999)
• "The Return of Evil Bill" (2000) - UK #70
• "Distortions" (2000)
• "The Second Line" (re-release) (2000) - UK #56
• "Walking With Thee" (2002) - UK #65
• "Come into Our Room" (2002)
• "The Magician" (2004)
• "Circle of Fifths" (2004)
• "Tusk" (2006)
• "Harvest(within you)" (2006)
• "If You Could Read Your Mind" (2007)
• "Free Not Free" (2008)Video
• "The Witch (Made To Measure)" (2008)
• "Tomorrow" (2008)

Compilations

• Clinic (1999) (compilation of the first three EPs)
• Funf (2007) (compilation of b-sides)

External links

• clinicvoot.org, the official site
• Clinic at MySpace
• Clinic discography at MusicBrainz
• Clinic at AllMusic
• Clinic interview at Prefix Magazine
• "Behind the Uniform: Clinic's Fetishized Fashion" CBC Radio 3 live concert session; story by Nicolas Bragg, photography by Joanne K.
• Clinic interview on Music Towers