Just who are those masked men?
By Kevin W. Smith
KSMITH@AZSTARNET.COM
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 05.15.2008
The first thing you may notice about Clinic is that its members wear surgical masks.
Aside from living up to its name — having your best health-care interests in mind — the Liverpool, England, act wears the medical facewear at gigs to shake things up from the typical look of dudes-in-shirts-and-jeans.
Past the costumes, Clinic has built a reputation on hazy space-rock, tilted toward eerie, dark introspection. And yet it strays from that approach on its latest album, 2008's "Do It!"
"If you hear a record and you know exactly what to expect," said singer and keyboardist Ade Blackburn, "or you know once you finish listening to it that it was predictable, then I think you've failed in some way."
Clinic will take the stage Wednesday at Plush.
From the marching charge of opener "Memories" to the vibrant guitar stomp of "The Witch," "Do It!" injects some adrenaline into Clinic's malcontent, morning-after mood music.
Speaking from his Liverpool home, Blackburn said the sound of "Do It!" — light, upbeat and poppy — matches the prevailing vibe the group felt during its three-week recording.
"It was basically just a good laugh," he said.
While the songs on "Do It!" are more uplifting than you may have come to expect from Clinic, the group retains a sound that recalls Muse, The Black Angels, Gorillaz or the vocals of Radiohead's Thom Yorke if he sang with his jaw clenched.
Clinic is one of the few British acts that found some commercial viability in the States earlier this decade and maintained it — unlike, say, The Music. Clinic's breakthrough happened around the time of its second album, 2002's "Walking With Thee," which was stocked with stoned-out atmospherics.
Blackburn seems comfortable letting Clinic slip into veteran rock band status. He said the group's perceived longevity is relative, as fewer bands these days stick together for more than two or three albums.
"It shows that you can do music as more than something short term," he said.
On Wednesday, Clinic will play two sets. The first will consist of the entirety of "Do It!" The second will be older material and fan favorites (the band is currently taking e-mail requests at contact@clinicvoot.org).
The contrasting sets show Clinic again looking out for your general well-being.
"It makes it a bit more of a relaxed evening," Blackburn said.
0 Comments on this story
