Clinic - Visitations

Like The Fall or The Clientele, Clinic continue to plow a unique furrow, dedicated without question to their particular aesthetic trail. Unlike The Fall or The Clientele, this isn't mimeographed ranting or gossamer evening music: this is crypt funk and nightmare blues, Clinic's characteristic fug of sneers and ghost sounds. Though they have yet to top the ordered disorder of 'Internal Wrangler' (or, perhaps, the spectral anthem called Come Into Our Room), 'Visitations' is a perfectly respectable addition to the canon. The first single, Tusk, is all speedy zombie punk, while Animal Human matches undead autoharp with jawbone percussion and funky squawkbox guitar. Jigsaw Man is perhaps the most interesting departure, with acoustic guitar strumming out Wicker Man chills. And yet, and yet – is this all they have, the same sort of party night after night? It's not that we need a change of venue, just a new surprise at midnight. [Sean Michaels]