Clinic Stars are an exciting duo from Detroit formed by Giovanna Lenski and Christian Molik, who have just unveiled the details of their upcoming debut record! Entitled Only Hinting, the record both refines and redefines Clinic Stars’ pitch-perfect fusion of downer-pop balladry and featherweight shoegaze. Recorded and produced at the band’s home studio, the record was crafted across 2022 and 2023, patiently layering FX and spatial depths to give each song a swirling, subconscious undertow. From the strummed whirlpool of “I Am The Dancer” to the gated reverb of “Remain” and the greyscale guitar reverie of “Isn’t It,” the record aches as much as it moves, daydreaming of escape and transcendence. During the creative process, the duo cited a desire to leave their “industrial environment” as muse, although the songs also revel in the romance of longing itself, in the beauty of hearts grown distant. The duo’s previous EPs, 2021’s 10,000 Dreams and 2022’s April’s Past, captured a similarly swooning slowcore palette, but Only Hinting hits different. Here haze is as much instrument as texture, gauze and melody married as one, traced in elegant arcs across cities streaked in shadow. Below this article, you can listen to the first two singles off of the record, the title-track and “I Am The Dancer”.
Only Hinting will be released on September 20th via Kranky. Pre-orders are now available here.
Photo credit: Ivan Fucich
