Clinic

Formed in 1997 on the outskirts of Liverpool, the Clinic developed a unique blend of post-punk, garage rock, psychedelia, and electronic music. Among the group’s influences are names such as Velvet Underground, Suicide, Can, Crime, and The Residents.

The Clinic formed after the breakup of Pure Morning, the previous band of Ade Blackburn (vocals, guitar, keyboards, and melodica) and Jonathan Hartley (guitar, keyboards, and clarinet). The original lineup was rounded out by Brian Campbell (bass and backing vocals) and Carl Turney (drums). From their early years, the band members drew attention for performing while wearing surgical masks—a visual choice that was even interpreted as a symbol of their intention to “save” pop music. Blackburn, however, later explained that the costumes were primarily a tribute to bands like Crime and The Residents.

After independently releasing the EPs I.P.C. Subeditors Dictate Our Youth (1997), Monkey on Your Back (1998), and Cement Mixer (1998), the group signed with Domino Records. The recordings from these early works were compiled on the self-titled compilation Clinic, released in 1999. During the same period, the band gained wider recognition with “The Second Line,” a track later used in a Levi’s advertising campaign in the United Kingdom.

The debut album, Internal Wrangler, was released in 2000, featuring a sound marked by vintage organs, abrasive guitars, repetitive rhythms, and Blackburn’s distinctive vocals. “The Return of Evil Bill” and “Distortions” were among the tracks that helped solidify the album’s reputation. The album’s success led the band to tour with the Radiohead.

In 2002, the band released Walking with Thee, a more atmospheric and accessible album that expanded their international reach. The album was nominated for the Mercury Prize and received a Grammy nomination in the Best Alternative Music Album category. Next came Winchester Cathedral (2004), Visitations (2006), Do It! (2008) and Bubblegum (2010).

With Bubblegum, the group pursued a more melodic and elaborate direction, incorporating elements of chamber pop and toning down some of the edginess of their earlier work. In 2012, the group released its seventh album, Free Reign, followed the next year by Free Reign II, an alternative version of the album featuring new mixes.

After a seven-year hiatus, Clinic returned in 2019 with Wheeltappers and Shunters. The title was inspired by the British variety show The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club, which aired during the 1970s. The album also marked a shift in the group’s trajectory, as its songs were composed solely by Blackburn and Hartley.

Now performing as a duo, Blackburn and Hartley released the band’s ninth album in 2021, Fantasy Island. The album featured a greater use of synthesizers, drum machines, and references to funk and disco, while its lyrics addressed themes related to time, entertainment, and the influence of the media.