Clinic: Do It!

Label: Domino

Over their ten-year run, Clinic hasn’t evolved as much as they’ve honed a particular sound that encompasses more than a record or two could hold. Much like a lot of their other albums, Do It! is meticulously constructed of rattly vocals, buried references (verbal and musical) to the bands not-so-obvious influences and a kitchen-sink approach to arrangement. Whirring by at just over 32 minutes, the record spills out of itself with a new sound popping up not just on every song, but every few bars of any of the 11 tracks. The pseudo-hippie flutes and tablas of “Free Not Free” give way to buzzsaw guitars and skronky sax on the next track, twee balladry a few minutes later on “Emotions” or Silver-Apples style doom pop on “High Coin”. Clinic’s accomplishment over the years has been perfecting a sound that would come off as schizophrenic without thoughtful consideration and years of refining. (Fred)