CLINIC - BUBBLEGUM (LP)

Clinic Bubblegum on Vinyl LP

Bubblegum, the mind-blowing sixth album from Clinic, is exactly 40 minutes long. Usually, long-players by this most extraordinary British band clock in at a clipped half-hour. That makes an extra 33% of murky psychedelic/punk excellence.

The revelatory opener, "I’m Aware," ushers in an exquisitely languorous sound based around lazily-strummed acoustic guitars, muted synths, distant wah-wah, soft lyrical murmurings and, on this one occasion, quietly lavish strings. Any other band would’ve hired in the orchestra for the whole album, but not this one. There are instead all manner of strange sonic delights subtly laced through. The prevailing mood: hazy, wistful, bittersweet, evocative of lengthening shadows, and the imminence of autumn.

As you’re sucked into its seductive haze, there are strong echoes of old-school Clinic. "Lion Tamer" and "Sapphire" rattle along at the frenetic, pulsating pace of vintage classics like "The Return of Evil Bill" and "Walking With Thee." Another factor in Clinic’s evolution was their working with a producer, for the first time since 2004’s Winchester Cathedral. The man in question, John Congleton, was suggested by Domino boss Laurence Bell, inspired by his warmth-bringing wizardry for, among others, Bill Callahan and Okkervil River.

Clinic Bubblegum Track Listing

1.  I’m Aware
2.  Bubblegum
3.  Baby
4.  Lion Tamer
5.  Linda
6.  Milk & Honey
7.  Radiostory
8.  Forever (Demis’ Blues)
9.  Another Way of Giving
10. Evelyn
11. Un Astronauta En Cielo
12. Freemason Waltz
13. Orangutan