Clinic (band)

Clinic are an English rock band, formed in 1997 in Liverpool. Signed to Domino Records, they are noted for their use of vintage keyboards/organs.

Clinic
Clinic performing in Edinburgh, Scotland (2008)
Background information
OriginLiverpool, England
GenresIndie rock, post-punk revival, garage rock, neo-psychedelia, noise rock, art punk
Years active1997 (1997)–present
LabelsDomino Recording Company
MembersAdrian "Ade" Blackburn
Brian Campbell
Jonathan Hartley
Carl Turney

History

Formation and early recordings

The band soon developed early notoriety for featuring instruments (primarily keyboards/organs) that were acquired at various jumble sales and flea markets. Shortly after, the EP I.P.C. Subeditors Dictate Our Youth was released on their own Aladdin's Cave of Golf record label. The EP made the top ten of John Peel's Festive Fifty at the end of the year, and two other self-financed singles followed in 1998.

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 reissued after being used in a television advertisement for Levi's jeans. In the same year, the band played at All Tomorrow's Parties and Scott Walker's Meltdown, and toured with Radiohead. Internal Wrangler was voted Number 9 in Pitchfork's best albums of the year.

2002–2007

Two further albums, Walking with Thee (which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Alternative Album) 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, performing "Walking with Thee". "Come into Our Room", the second single from Walking with Thee, was featured on an episode of "The OC" as well as an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and was included on the series' soundtrack album. Additionally, another song from Walking with Thee, "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 (Within You)" preceded the album as a single in early October.

Funf, a compilation album of b-sides, 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–present

2008 saw the release of the uncharacteristically mellow 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, and "Tomorrow" as the third. After touring to promote the album, in May 2009, Clinic played the Moondog tribute concert at the Barbican in London, performing "Oboe Round".

The band's sixth album, Bubblegum, produced by John Congleton was released on 4 October 2010. A press release stated that the album was a marked change in direction from their trademark "hyped-up sound".[1] The acoustic-based lead single from the album, "I'm Aware", was released on 20 September 2010,[2] and a second single, the titular wah-led "Bubblegum",[3] came out on 31 January 2011.

The band released an EP of cover versions, Ladies Night,[4] in support of Record Store Day, on 16 April 2011; the main track was a version of Man 2 Man's "Male Stripper". In March 2012, the band was invited to support The Shins at the Forum in Kentish Town.[5] They performed the new song "Seamless Boogie Woogie Rpt BBC2 10pm". In April 2012, the song "D.P." from the band's debut EP was used in a TV advertisement for Weetabix breakfast cereal.[6]

The LP Free Reign was released in 2012 and mixed by Daniel Lopatin and the band. The album was markedly different from Bubblegum with more of an electronic/keyboard based sound. After a sabbatical Clinic performed with John Cale at his 'Velvet Underground and Nico' Lp show in Liverpool, May 2016. Their newest release, Wheeltappers and Shunters, was released in 2019 after a seven-year break.

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. During an interview, Blackburn reveals the sound of the album the band are promoting while touring has an effect on their attire while performing.[7]

Ade Blackburn has said in an interview that Clinic wear surgical masks on stage as a 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."[7]

Band members

Current members:

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[8]
UK
Indie

[9]
US
Indie

[10]
Internal Wrangler
  • Released: 1 May 2000
  • Label: Domino (#WIG78)
  • Formats: CD, LP
14225
Walking with Thee
  • Released: 25 February 2002
  • Label: Domino (#WIG100)
  • Formats: CD, LP
1332029
Winchester Cathedral
  • Released: 23 August 2004
  • Label: Domino (#WIG144)
  • Formats: CD, LP
29
Visitations
  • Released: 16 October 2006
  • Label: Domino (#WIG181)
  • Formats: CD, LP
47
Do It!
  • Released: 7 April 2008
  • Label: Domino (#WIG165)
  • Formats: CD, LP
42
Bubblegum
  • Released: 4 October 2010
  • Label: Domino (#WIG261)
  • Formats: CD, LP
Free Reign
  • Released: 13 November 2012
  • Label: Domino (#WIG295)
  • Formats: CD, LP
Wheeltappers and Shunters
  • Released: 10 May 2019
  • Label: Domino (#WIG424)
  • Formats: CD, LP
33
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Title Album details
Clinic
  • Released: 19 April 1999
  • Label: Domino (#WIG64)
  • Formats: CD, LP
Funf
  • Released: 18 June 2007
  • Label: Domino (#WIG192)
  • Formats: CD, LP
Free Reign II
  • Released: 4 March 2013
  • Label: Domino (#WIG303)
  • Formats: CD, LP, download

EPs

  • Operating at a Theatre Near You Vol. 1 (2004)
  • Ladies Night (2011)[4]

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
UK
[8]
UK
Indie

[11]
SCO
[12]
1997 "I.P.C. Subeditors Dictate Our Youth" Clinic
1998 "Monkey on Your Back"
"Cement Mixer"
1999 "The Second Line" 11224 Internal Wrangler
2000 "The Return of Evil Bill" 701388
"Distortions" 8015
"The Second Line" (re-release) 561062
2002 "Walking with Thee" 651379 Walking with Thee
"Come into Our Room" 8520
2004 "The Magician" 7711 Winchester Cathedral
"Circle of Fifths" 8923
2006 "Tusk" Visitations
"Harvest" 1376
2007 "If You Could Read Your Mind" 6
2008 "Free Not Free" Do It!
"The Witch (Made to Measure)"
"Tomorrow" 37
2010 "I'm Aware" Bubblegum
2011 "Bubblegum"
2012 "Miss You" Free Reign
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

References

  1. "Domino | Albums | Bubblegum". Dominorecordco.com. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  2. "Domino | Singles | I'm Aware". Dominorecordco.com. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  3. "Domino | News | Free download of a remix of 'Bubblegum' by Clinic". Dominorecordco.com. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  4. "Clinic - Ladies Night". Clinicvoot.org. 16 April 2011. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  5. "First 2012 Live Dates Confirmed". clinicvoot.org. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  6. "Weetabix Golden Syrup: Dad's Day Out". tvadmusic.com. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  7. "CLINIC: MORE OF A NUNNY STATE - L.A. RECORD". larecord.com. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  8. UK chart positions:
  9. UK independent album chart peaks:
  10. US independent album chart peaks:
  11. Independent singles chart peaks:
  12. Scottish singles chart peaks:
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