linic’s first LP, Internal Wrangler surprised many. Their first few EPs hinted at a buzzy rebirth of Wire, they existed as chugging tributes to the early days of post-punk. Internal Wrangler introduced a considerably more electronic aspect to the group’s sound. The song "Distortions" sounded as if it were performed entirely on a cheap keyboard. "Distortions" served as the album’s creative and emotional highlight, with lead singer Ade Blackburn bending ripped-off Velvet Underground lyrics about to a tinny beat. Walking With Thee, their second LP, finds Clinic diving deeper into the digital ideal. Many of the songs seem to be fully realized through computers upon preliminary listens; but upon closer inspection reveal a more definite human side.

The electronic textures explored throughout the album are very refined. With the keyboards and processed drum sounds, Clinic is able to create a complex universe of sound. Simple synths manage to create an elegant backdrop for many of the songs. Though the new Clinic sound relies on a more detached feeling, many things about this album scream urgency. The drums always seem like they are tripping over themselves in order to get away from something. The trebly guitar in "Welcome" paints a mental picture of some desert highway chase, it slides about in the upper registers, oblivious of anything but the immediate danger. Entire songs, like the frantic "Pet Eunoch," cloak themselves in distortion, as if to hide from something. Throughout the album, the vocals are placed further back in the mix so as to convey a sense of distance, as if the sentiment in Blackburn’s sentimental lyrics doesn’t fully apply all the time.

The first song, "Harmony" opens the album on a very mechanical tone. Blackburn’s voice, the first sound we hear, is molded into a percussive force, a constant coo that evolves, becoming a strange consciousness amongst the otherwise electronic backdrop. The drums plod along intently, keyboards ping and buzz about. The tone is somewhat gloomy, with a pinging keyboard providing a bizarre, but natural counterpoint to Ade’s hopeful lyrics. "Fill yourself with dreams," he sings. A ponderous piano enters; the mood shift either complements his sentiment or contradicts him entirely, depending on how you want to look at it. Such musical punctuations create a sense of adventure in the album; new tonal flourishes seem to come up with each listen.

The closest we have to the sound of Internal Wrangler is the song "Mr. Moonlight." The texture of the song is quite a bit more human. A rubbery guitar and heavily reverbed drums provide a calm backdrop to Ade’s abstract portrayal of an almost-nihilistic existence. The song sounds like an updated version of Internal Wrangler’s beautiful closer, "Goodnight Georgie." A celestial harmonica swoops around in the air as Ade relays the bittersweet lyrics.

There are no excellent songs on Walking With Thee, individual songs fall victim to their own form and limited sonic palette. On the other hand, the songs manage to form a very thoughtful whole, Internal Wrangler suffered from lack of cohesiveness. Clinic is a very exciting group, each of their new ventures shows great maturation, and more often than not, they deliver the goods.