Clinic (band)

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Clinic
Image:Clinic (band).jpg
Background information
Origin Liverpool, England
Genre(s) Indie Rock
Post-punk revival
Years active 1997–present
Label(s) Domino
Website clinicvoot.org
Members
Ade Blackburn
Brian Campbell
Hartley
Carl Turney

This article is about the English band Clinic. For the Belgian band, see Klinik.

Clinic are a Liverpool based indie rock band noted for their often fast-paced, eclectic sound. Their distinguishing sound can commonly be recognized by their prominent use of vintage keyboards/organs, most notably the Philips Philicorda, and peculiar off-scale chord progressions. The band's official website once stated they sound "like no other band". The band is made up of:

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

Contents

[edit] History

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 rummage 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.

Abe 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." .[1]

In 1999, the band signed to Domino Records and the first three singles were compiled on a single CD or LP. Their proper 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 Letterman, and 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 of b-sides and rarities, was released in June 2007. Clinic also appeared with Roky Erickson at Jarvis Cocker's 2007 Meltdown and later in the year will tour 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!'.

Blackburn's distinctive acidic vocals are a trademark of the band, and they are also known for wearing surgical masks and costumes while performing and in promotional photos. Despite widespread critical acclaim, they have yet to break into the mainstream.[original research?]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] EPs

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

[edit] Singles

  • "The Return of Evil Bill" (2000)
  • "Distortions" (2000)
  • "The Second Line" (2000)
  • "Walking With Thee" (2002)
  • "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)

[edit] Compilations

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

[edit] References

  1. ^ Abe Blackburn Interview with L.A. Record

[edit] External links

  • Clinic interview on Music Towers
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