Clinic (band)

Clinic
Origin	Liverpool, England
Genres	Indie rock Post-punk revival
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Domino
Website	clinicvoot.org
Members
Ade Blackburn Brian Campbell Jonathan Hartley Carl Turney

Clinic are a Liverpool based post-punk revival band 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 and early recordings

Ade Blackburn and Jonathan Hartley formed Clinic in 1997 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 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 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.

2002–2007

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, 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. 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 (Within You)" preceded the album 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'.

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.^[5]

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." .^[5]

Band members

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

Discography

Albums

• Internal Wrangler (2000) #142 UK^[6]
• Walking with Thee (2002) #133 UK^[6]
• Winchester Cathedral (2004)
• Visitations (2006)
• Do It! (2008)
• Bubblegum (2010)

EPs

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

Singles

• "I.P.C. Subeditors Dictate Our Youth" (1997)
• "Monkey on Your Back" (1998)
• "Cement Mixer" (1998)
• "The Second Line" (1999) #112 UK^[6]
• "The Return of Evil Bill" (2000) #70 UK^[7]
• "Distortions" (2000) #81 UK^[6]
• "The Second Line" (re-release) (2000) #56 UK^[7]
• "Walking with Thee" (2002) #65 UK^[7]
• "Come into Our Room" (2002) #85 UK^[6]
• "The Magician" (2004) #77 UK^[6]
• "Circle of Fifths" (2004) #89 UK^[6]
• "Tusk" (2006)
• "Harvest (Within You)" (2006) #137 UK^[6]
• "If You Could Read Your Mind" (2007)
• "Free Not Free" (2008) Video
• "The Witch (Made to Measure)" (2008)
• "Tomorrow" (2008)
• "I'm Aware" (2010)
• "Bubblegum"^[3] (2011)

Compilations

• Clinic (1999) (compilation of the first three singles)
• Funf (2007) (compilation of B-sides)

References

1. ^ http://www.dominorecordco.com/uk/albums/18-06-10/bubblegum/
2. ^ http://www.dominorecordco.com/uk/singles/18-06-10/im-aware/
3. ^ ^{a b} http://dominorecordco.com/uk/news/27-01-11/free-download-of-a-remix-of-bubblegum-by-clinic/
4. ^ ^{a b} http://www.clinicvoot.org/clinic_ladiesnight_sampler.html
5. ^ ^{a b} Abe Blackburn Interview with L.A. Record
6. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} http://zobbel.de/ Click "Chart Log UK", and then "C" to find Clinic's chart positions
7. ^ ^{a b c} Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 111. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

External links

• Official website
• Clinic on 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