Clinic

Clinic have been releasing music for over ten years now and have five albums under their belt, the latest, Do It!, released in April 08. They have a sound that is defined by driving rhythms, fuzzy organ and sharp, intense vocals that comes partly from using vintage instruments acquired from rummage sales. Over the years they've toured with bands as big as Radiohead, Flaming Lips and Arcade Fire. Front-man Ade answered the questions:

I have great memories of my first ever gig, which was Clinic supporting Super Furries in Tenby in 1999. Are you able to recall specific gigs from this long ago? Do you have good memories from this period of being in the band?

Yeah that whole super furry animals tour was really good for us at that time. I've always liked their humour and ideas, musically and with the visuals etc. The tenby gig in particular was quite mad. We had a last minute stand in playing bass so we were winging it to a large extent..

You've played with some huge bands since then...what's changed in the way you approach playing live since your early gigs? Do you still get easily excited or nervous about playing?

In some ways the bigger supports were easier. There's no expectations on you... you play a short set and the sound is usually pretty good. I still get a mixture of nerves and adrenalin...I think it all helps to keep an urgency in the music. Our vintage gear still breaks down quite often, which keeps an added edge to things.

You're well known for wearing surgical scrubs on stage, but rumour has it you've taken to wearing Hawaiian shirts lately...what's the thinking behind this costume change?

For the past few albums we've gone through quaker outfits, rural gear and yeah most recently a bit of a tropical direction. It's mainly to keep it new and not too serious... combined with the masks they still keep a group identity.

To what extent have you consciously attempted to change your sound for the latest album? How has your song-writing/recording process developed over the years?

On 'Do It!', the last LP, we changed to a more mellow direction on songs like 'free not free'. There was a twisted motown / soul influence. Ee also recorded the last 2 albums in our own studio, which was much more relaxed. It's still fairly random though how the music comes about, there's never a big gameplan.

How much of your time do you actually spend working with the band? What consumes most of your time aside from music?

I do music in some form most days but again it's not too fixed. Outside of that I like getting off my head a lot and reading, but not both at the same time.

[Nov 2008] Back to Top