Clinic - Free Not Free
[Domino]
Published Monday, 4th February, 2008 at 3:45 PM
UK release date: 1st February 2008
Written by Jennifer Coxley
Download: iTunes (UK) Amazon (US)
Buy CD: Amazon (US)
Is this right? Liverpool's masked acid-rock, psych-punk enthusiasts Clinic in a happy mood? Free Not Free is the first glimpse of fifth studio album Do It and astonishingly, the band sound relatively upbeat with no hint of the dirty Philicorda organs or the scuzz-fuzz sweaty basement garage-rock of yesteryear's albums.
More 60's soulful pop and lounge than surgical-rock, Free Not Free is similar to 1998's Cement Mixer b-side Kimberly but with a bossa nova beat, gentle chimes and percussion, that is then weaved-through a clarinet accompaniment. There are some further signs of the Clinic of old, from brief outbursts of heavily distorted fuzz guitars, but these are quickly kicked aside and brushed under the rug.
Clinic have been making bone-shaking, skull-rattling thrash-rock for years, yet they remain an outside of the mainstream. Will 2008 be the year the band breakthrough? It's doubtful, but we can thank the lord that age has not dampened their psych-spirits.
You can download Free Not Free and its b-side Thor completely free from the Clinic website.
Track Listing:
A. Free Not Free
B. Thor
