Why Clinic’s Wild In The Streets Might Be the Most Defiantly Unfashionable Album of 2023
Let’s get one thing straight: Clinic shouldn’t exist anymore. By all logic, a band that’s been around since 1997 and just dropped their 10th album should either be a nostalgia act or a cautionary tale about creative bankruptcy. And yet, Wild In The Streets isn’t just a comeback—it’s a middle finger to anyone who thinks longevity equals stagnation. Personally, I think this is exactly what modern music needs: a group of aging art-punk veterans who’d rather chase the ghost of Martin Denny’s exotica than follow a single trend.
The Art of Running in Reverse
Ade Blackburn’s quote about “running in the opposite direction” isn’t just branding—it’s a survival tactic. In an era where algorithms dictate what’s “cool,” Clinic’s deliberate detours into dub reggae, Cabaret Voltaire-esque industrial scrapes, and hyper-colored exotica percussion feel almost revolutionary. What many people don’t realize is that this isn’t random eclecticism; it’s a calculated rebellion. When they strip a verse out of a song to “push it along,” they’re not just editing—they’re demolishing the scaffolding of what a “proper” song should be. It’s punk, but without the leather jackets and safety pins.
Why Nostalgia Isn’t a Dirty Word (Unless You’re Doing It Wrong)
Let’s talk about exotica. The genre that once soundtracked suburban America’s fantasy of Polynesian mysticism now sounds like a fever dream. Clinic isn’t just sampling this stuff—they’re dissecting it. The “strange undercurrents” Blackburn mentions? That’s the good part. Early rock’n’roll’s “immediacy” meets Les Baxter’s sonic maximalism? It shouldn’t work. And yet, this collision of eras feels less like a retro fetish and more like cultural time travel. From my perspective, this is how you honor the past: by making it weird again.
The Paradox of Being a “Model Citizen” in 2023
The album’s tracklist reads like a manifesto for dysfunction. Titles like “Model Citizen” and “Well Wisher” scream irony, while “Wild In The Streets” and “Back To Nature” hint at chaos lurking beneath pastoral fantasies. This raises a deeper question: Is Clinic diagnosing society’s descent into performative sanity, or are they just tired of everyone else playing it safe? The fact that they’re releasing this on Domino—a label that’s seen as indie-rock royalty—adds another layer. It’s like watching your uncle who collects vintage postcards suddenly start rapping. And I mean that as a compliment.
Final Thoughts: Why This Album Matters More Than You Think
Here’s the thing: Wild In The Streets probably won’t chart. It won’t go viral. It might not even crack Pitchfork’s Top 50. But if you take a step back and think about it, that’s the point. Clinic isn’t chasing relevance—they’re weaponizing irrelevance. In a world where artists are expected to be “authentic” while meticulously curating their brand, their refusal to play nice is radical. This isn’t just an album; it’s a case study in how to age disgracefully in public. And honestly? We should all be so lucky to have bands that stubbornly refuse to make the music we’re “supposed” to love.
