The Unlikely Relevance of Clinic: Why a 10th Album From a 90s Band Feels Urgent in 2023
Let’s address the elephant in the room: why should anyone care about a new album from a band that formed before most TikTok stars were born? Clinic’s Wild In The Streets isn’t just nostalgia bait—it’s a defiant middle finger to the algorithmic sameness of modern music. And frankly, we need more of that.
Art-Punk Survivors in the Age of Disposable Hits
When Ade Blackburn and Jonathan Hartley first strapped on their surgical masks in 1997, they were part of a wave of post-punk revivalism that felt fresh. Now, as one of the last bands standing from that era, they’re doing something radical by default: refusing to chase trends. ‘We’ve always run in the opposite direction’ isn’t just a quote—it’s a manifesto. In an industry obsessed with virality, their deliberate contrarianism feels almost revolutionary.
Personally, I think the duo’s decision to pare down to just two members speaks volumes. It’s not about dwindling relevance; it’s about distilling their creative vision to its purest form. There’s a rawness in that minimalism, a refusal to overcomplicate that mirrors the very ethos of punk—just executed through a vintage synth and a Casio keyboard instead of a Stratocaster.
The Exotica Connection: Why Tiki Culture Meets Post-Punk
Blackburn name-dropping Martin Denny and Les Baxter had me pausing mid-listen. Why would a Liverpool art-punk band draw from exotica—a genre literally designed to soundtrack suburban tiki bars? What makes this fascinating is how these influences clash beautifully. The ‘strange undercurrents’ he mentions? That’s the sweet spot. Exotica’s artificial paradise aesthetic provides the perfect counterpoint to Clinic’s often dystopian lyricism.
Let’s unpack this: exotica as ‘easy listening’ with dark edges mirrors our current cultural moment. We’re all scrolling through utopian Instagram feeds while existential dread simmers underneath. Clinic’s blending of these worlds isn’t just clever—it’s eerily prescient.
The Dub Reggae Revelation: Rhythm Over Lyrics
Here’s a detail many might overlook: their immersion in dub reggae. This isn’t just about adding percussion—it’s about rethinking musical architecture. Dub’s emphasis on space and rhythm explains why they’d ‘take out a whole verse’ for propulsion. In an era where hyperpop artists cram 17 sounds into 3 minutes, Clinic’s opposite move—stripping back to primal beats—feels radical.
From my perspective, this connects to a broader backlash against overproduction. Think of the rise of Gilla Band or black midi—bands that prioritize tension over polish. Clinic’s dub influence isn’t a gimmick; it’s their way of saying music should unsettle before it soothes.
Wild In The Streets: A Title That Double-Dog Dares Us
The album’s title track as opener isn’t just a statement—it’s a challenge. ‘Wild In The Streets’ could be read as pandemic-era chaos, climate anxiety, or the general unraveling of societal norms. But what this really suggests is that Clinic understands something most modern artists don’t: true rebellion isn’t about shock value. It’s about stubbornly refusing to play the game.
Consider the tracklist order: placing the title track first, followed by ‘Model Citizen’ and ‘Back To Nature.’ If you take a step back and think about it, there’s a narrative here about individuality vs. conformity, technology vs. primal instinct. This isn’t a playlist—it’s a concept album hiding in plain sight.
Why This Matters Beyond the Indie Bubble
Clinic’s existence in 2023 raises a deeper question: can art survive without reinvention? Their answer is a resounding ‘yes’—but with a twist. They’re not recycling their 90s sound; they’re mutating it with bizarre influences like exotica and early rock’n’roll. This hybrid approach might be their most subversive act yet.
What many people don’t realize is that longevity in music today isn’t about staying the same—it’s about evolving while keeping your artistic DNA intact. Clinic isn’t trying to be ‘relevant.’ They’re proving that staying weird for 25 years creates its own kind of relevance—one that can’t be manufactured by a focus group.
Final Diagnosis: This Band Shouldn’t Work. That’s Exactly Why It Does.
In a music landscape where reinvention often means chasing Spotify algorithms, Clinic’s anti-strategy is refreshing. Wild In The Streets doesn’t just sound different—it sounds dangerous in a way few albums dare to be. And maybe that’s the point. After all, if art isn’t making you slightly uncomfortable, is it really art?
