Berlin’s Day Clinic presents their self-titled debut album – a post-punk/psychedelic journey into social alienation!
Berlin, Germany based post-punk/psych rock outfit Day Clinic has just released their self-titled debut album on January 6th, 2023.
Tracklist:
01. A Place For Everyone
02. Sysiphus
03. A Mirror
04. Memorial Day
05. Secrets
06. 02-37 AM
07. As Above So Below
08. Ghosts
Recorded in 2022 at Tricone Studios and Day Clinic Studios in Berlin.
Produced by Rafa Quiñonero and Day Clinic.
Mixed by Rafa Quiñonero.
Mastered by Kai Fricke.
Artwork by Jouri Toreev.
Courtesy of The Metallist PR:
Album description:
The debut self-titled album by Day Clinic starts with the track »A Place for Everyone« – a poem read on top of a brooding swelling waves of synthesizer bringing to mind the soundscapes of Pink Floyd in the of mid 70s. A sample of a street sounds with children passing by contributes to a sense of alienation and connects the track to the next song on the album »Sisyphus«. Named after the book by Albert Camus the song is an exploration of an existential crisis, a reflection on the sense and senselessness of life. The song combines a cold post-punk guitar riff and rhythm in the verse with a heavier The Mars Volta inspired chorus the song tries to bridge the light and heavy aspects of life.
A combination of post-punk and progressive rock continues on the third song – »A Mirror«. Featuring the saxophone player Ruby Mai and alternating in it’s time signatures the song draws inspiration from the 70s prog of King Crimson while keeping the cold atmosphere of 80s post-punk acts such as Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds and Bauhaus.
Following is the anti-militaristic song »Memorial Day«. It tells about how tragic personal experiences of people are being used by states in order to perpetuate the war and hatred, for the sake of profit. The track combines noise-rock and punk with funky psychedelic elements.
Photos by Tim Dajan Thiele
»Secrets« is the heavier number on the record. Alternating a fast punk bridges with a slow, heavy thumping verse and a dark slightly gothic chorus the song builds up and evolves until it resolves in an airy, light coda featuring acoustic guitars, piano and flute contributed by Ted Bernays.
»02:37 AM« marks the ending of the first part of the album. It is an acoustic instrumental track evoking a lonely night, which gives the track its title. The song »As Above So Below« marks the beginning of the second part of the album. It is driven by a melancholic piano melody, bringing to mind the works of Portishead and it tells a story of failing relationship, and the pain of separation. The song peaks in the middle with a heavy, distorted and angry part.
Closing the album is the track »Ghost«, reviving the psychedelic and atmosphere of the 70s with the sounds of sitar and Middle Eastern drumming the song has nevertheless a much gloomier and colder sound. With its mantra like chanting, Sahara-rock flavoured guitars and Indian influences the song deals with the detachment and loneliness of online communication.
Biography:
Day Clinic is the screeching and kicking child of four sound-nomads who have left their homes in Israel, Spain, Germany, and the UK and relocated to the Berlin in order to start forging in 2018 their mixture of cold, 80s inspired post-punk, alternative rock and heavy-psych as relentless and heterogenous as the city where it’s created.
Originally started under the name Janis the band changed their name to Day Clinic in order to better reflect their sound. Urban alienation, yearning and fury fill every note created by Boris (ex-Totenwald), Rafa (Barana, Ondo), Can and Chris (Caustic Minds). In 2019 (as Janis) the band released a debut EP »Closer Than My Skin« and went on extensive touring in Europe. In October 2021 and in May 2022 two singles – »Where Will You Go« and »Not For You« were released.
On January 6th, 2023 Day Clinic released the debut album on which they venture into more experimental sonic territories, incorporating more synthesized sounds, reminiscent of 70s progressive rock as well as real saxophone, flute and sitar alongside their signature sound based on a fuzzed-out stonery bass, noisy guitar riffs and melancholic yet angry voice. In their songs Day Clinic explore the topics of social alienation brought about by the advanced technology, the fragility of existence in a world consumed by militaristic hatred and the struggle to find mental stability.
Day Clinic is:
Boris Kaplunovich – Voice, Guitar
Can Aylak – Guitar, Additional Voices
Chris Crabtree – Bass
Rafa Quiñonero – Drums, Programming, Bells
Additional musicians:
Ruby Mai – Saxophone
Ted Bernays – Flute
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well