Clinic, ‘Winchester Cathedral’
By user • Sep 9th, 2004 • Category: Album Reviews
In the film “Multiplicity,” Michael Keaton manufactures carbon copies of himself, but each result is more ill-fated, more dim-witted and more annoying than the last.
Clinic’s third release perfectly illustrates this, with art imitating art.
The band’s near-perfect 2000 debut highlighted its bizarre orchestration of keyboards and guitar harmonics just enough to make us overlook that the band was dressed in full hospital garb.
On its sophomore release, the creative apple didn’t fall far from the Liverpudlian tree, but it broke into pieces when it landed. Despite having its moments, the album was more ethereal and less direct than its predecessor.
So is the case with “Winchester Cathedral.” By round three, Ade Blackburn rarely uses his voice as a focal point. Instead, he is content to interweave his moaning with the uninspired guitar loops and allow his lyrics to fade to the background, like just another instrument. Combined with songs that sound less like songs and more like an art-punk free-for-all, Clinic is in desperate need of creative rehab.
Get this foursome something to remedy their artistic doldrums, stat. And while you’re at it, get Keaton back in the bat suit.
Northern Star, Sept. 9, 2004
user is
Email this author | All posts by user