Steep Stims

Steep Stims
Studio album by
Clark
Released7 November 2025
Genre
Length47:57
LabelThrottle Records
ProducerClark
Clark chronology
In Camera
(2024) 		Steep Stims
(2025) 		We Bury the Dead
(2026)

Steep Stims is a studio album by British electronic musician Clark, released on 7 November 2025 on Throttle Records.[1] Recorded primarily using an Access Virus synthesizer as a deliberate creative constraint, the album marks a return to purely instrumental electronic music following the vocal-driven Sus Dog (2023).[2][1] Steep Stims received generally positive reviews from music critics.[2]

Background

Clark discovered the Access Virus synthesizer at MESS (Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio), a facility run by Robin Fox.[3][4] The first patch he played on the instrument became "Blowtorch Thimble".[3] Roughly 80–90% of the album was made using the Virus and a drum machine as a self-imposed limitation.[5][6] Clark described the album as sitting alongside his self-titled Clark (2014) and Death Peak (2017) in palette and tone.[5] "18EDO Bailiff" features a piano tuned to 18 equal divisions of the octave by microtonal specialist Angus Donald.[3]

"Blowtorch Thimble" was released as the lead single on 3 September 2025, alongside the album announcement.[1] "Civilians" followed on 30 September 2025; a music video directed and choreographed by Melanie Lane and Corps Conspirators was premiered on 1 October 2025.[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarHalf star[2]
MojoStarStarStarStar[8]
Uncut80[9]
OndaRock6/10[10]

Heather Phares of AllMusic called it "as sophisticated in its execution as his more overtly ambitious projects".[2] Inverted Audio described it as "rich in feeling" and praised its blend of trance, IDM and dancefloor energy.[11]

The album received coverage in the French press, including reviews in Les Inrockuptibles and Le Monde.[12][13] Tsugi reviewed the album favourably,[6] and Radio Micheline named it their Album of the Week.[14]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Gift and Wound"2:13
2."Infinite Roller"5:22
3."No Pills U"2:13
4."Janus Modal"6:26
5."18EDO Bailiff"1:48
6."Globecore Flats"5:37
7."Blowtorch Thimble"3:30
8."Civilians"3:55
9."Inpatient's Day Out"5:10
10."Who Booed the Goose"3:18
11."5 Millionth Cave Painting"1:01
12."Negation Loop"2:45
13."Micro Lyf"4:36
Total length:47:57

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.[15]

  • Clark – composer, producer, performer, mixer
  • Matt Colton – mastering (at Metropolis)
  • Angus Donald – 18EDO piano tuning
  • Alma Haser – photography
  • Charlie Noon – design

References

  1. ^ a b c Breihan, Tom (3 September 2025). "Clark Announces New Album Steep Stims, Hear "Blowtorch Thimble"". Stereogum. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d Phares, Heather. "Steep Stims – Clark". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b c "Interview with Clark". Headphone Commute. 13 November 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  4. ^ Ottewill, Jim (6 November 2025). "Clark Interview: "I Love Using Music Gear That Isn't Popular and Other People Sneer At"". Juno Daily. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b Murray, Robin (4 November 2025). "In Conversation: Clark". Clash. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  6. ^ a b Cavassoni, Cecilia (7 November 2025). "Rosalía, Clark, Charlotte de Witte : sorties de la semaine". Tsugi (in French). Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Watch the Premiere of Clark's New Video for "Civilians"". Autre Magazine. 1 October 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Clark: Steep Stims". Mojo. October 2025.
  9. ^ "Clark: Steep Stims". Uncut. October 2025.
  10. ^ Giustiniano, Alessandro (12 November 2025). "Clark – Steep Stims". OndaRock (in Italian). Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  11. ^ Durston, Tom; Patterson, Will (17 November 2025). "Rave in Retrospect: Clark's Steep Stims Reawakens the Dance". Inverted Audio. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  12. ^ Thevenin, Patrick (5 November 2025). "Dans les souvenirs de rave du bidouilleur britannique Clark". Les Inrockuptibles (in French). Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Sélection albums : Sergueï Rachmaninov, Hayley Williams, Clark, Danny Brown, Astral Bakers". Le Monde (in French). 7 November 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Album de la semaine : Clark – Steep Stims". Radio Micheline. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Steep Stims, by Clark". Bandcamp. Retrieved 22 February 2026.

Content Disclaimer

Informasi ini disarikan dari Wikipedia dan disajikan kembali untuk tujuan edukasi. Konten tersedia di bawah lisensi CC BY-SA 3.0. Kami tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakakuratan data yang bersumber dari kontribusi publik tersebut.

  1. The information displayed on this website is sourced in part or in whole from Wikipedia and has been adapted for the purpose of restating it. We strive to provide accurate and relevant information, however:
  2. There is no guarantee of absolute accuracy. Wikipedia is an open, collaborative project that can be edited by anyone, so information is subject to change.
  3. It is not intended to constitute professional advice. The content displayed is for informational and educational purposes only. For important decisions (e.g., medical, legal, or financial), please consult a professional.
  4. Content copyright. Wikipedia is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA). This means that content may be reused with appropriate attribution and shared under a similar license.
  5. Responsible use. Any risk arising from the use of information from this website is entirely the responsibility of the user.