// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Sus Dog say? "I'm paws-itive I'm suspicious.
| Sus Dog | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 26 May 2023 | |||
| Studios | East Connection Music Recording, Studio 22 | |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 45:22 | |||
| Label | Throttle Records | |||
| Producers | Clark Thom Yorke (exec.) | |||
| Clark chronology | ||||
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Sus Dog is the tenth studio album by British electronic musician Clark, released on 26 May 2023 on Throttle Records, his own label.[1] The album is executive produced by Thom Yorke, who also contributes bass and vocals, and features performances by drummer Richard Spaven, violinist Rakhi Singh, and vocalist Anika.[2][3] It is Clark's first album to prominently feature his own singing voice.[4]
Sus Dog received generally positive reviews from music critics, with an aggregate score of 78 out of 100 on Metacritic.[5] Critics praised Clark's vocal performances and the collaboration with Yorke.[6]
Background
[edit]After previously swapping remixes[7], Clark approached Yorke seeking feedback on his new vocal material. Yorke responded favourably, stating that Clark's singing represented "new shark-infested waters" and that it was not "the usual singer songwriter guff".[1] Yorke subsequently took on the role of executive producer, also playing bass and making vocal contributions on the track "Medicine".[3][2] In an interview, Yorke described his involvement "I ended up being a kind of backseat driver as he pieced all the oddness of it together, which was fascinating".[8]
The album marks a departure from Clark's preceding orchestral and soundtrack work — Playground in a Lake (2021), Kiri Variations (2019), and the Daniel Isn't Real soundtrack (2019) — towards vocal-led songwriting. Clark described the record as "the first one where it's a bunch of songs, weird songs as they may be" and characterised the tracks thematically as "a bunch of love songs".[4][2] Broader themes explored on the album include trust, social anxiety, mortality, and bullying.[4]
"Town Crank" was released as the lead single on 24 January 2023, coinciding with the album announcement.[1] Further singles "Clutch Pearlers" and "Dolgoch Tape" followed ahead of release.[9][10] "Medicine", featuring Yorke on vocals, was released on the album's launch day alongside a music video directed by Dylan Hayes that uses deepfake technology to merge Clark and Yorke's faces. Hayes said he wanted an "uncanny synergy of both their faces and voices, causing a question of who’s who"[3] Clark supported the album with a 16-date European and North American tour from April to June 2023.[1]
Clark began work on a companion album of new tracks and extensive reworkings, Cave Dog, while awaiting the release of Sus Dog; it was released in December 2023.[11]
Music
[edit]DJ Mag described Sus Dog as Clark's closest approach to pop songwriting while remaining experimental in character, noting the collaboration with Spaven, Singh, and Anika as broadening the album's textural range.[4] Clark cited Thundercat and Beach House among his influences for the track "Bully", while "Dolgoch Tape" originated as a psychedelic-influenced piece written on a train.[4] The title track features vocals from Anika, and "Medicine" is a duet with Yorke.[3][4]
Clark discussed his decision to foreground vocals as a response to developments in artificial intelligence-generated music, noting that singing provides "a direct way to have a thumbprint on what you do".[4]
Critical reception
[edit]| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 78/100[5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| Evening Standard | [13] |
| Mojo | [14] |
| The Observer | [15] |
| Pitchfork | 7.7/10[6] |
| Uncut | 7/10[16] |
| Slant Magazine |  [17] |
Sus Dog received generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, the album holds an aggregate score of 78 out of 100 based on 6 critic reviews.[5] The Observer's Damien Morris gave the album four out of five stars.[15] Mojo awarded four out of five stars, calling it the sound of Clark finding his voice.[14] Pitchfork's Harry Tafoya gave it 7.7 out of 10, describing it as warm and gratifying and praising Clark's falsetto as a counterpoint to the intricate production.[6] AllMusic's Heather Phares gave four out of five stars, highlighting the album's creativity after several years of darker thematic work.[12] Uncut's Sharon O'Connell gave 7 out of 10, noting the balancing of melancholia and euphoria.[16]
Slant Magazine was more critical, noting Radiohead-adjacent stylistic elements in the stuttering electronics and vocal approach but questioning how organically they integrated with Clark's established sound.[17]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Christopher Stephen Clark.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Alyosha" | 4:38 |
| 2. | "Town Crank" | 3:39 |
| 3. | "Sus Dog" | 4:36 |
| 4. | "Clutch Pearlers" | 4:47 |
| 5. | "Over Empty Streets" | 1:49 |
| 6. | "Wedding" | 3:11 |
| 7. | "Forest" | 2:51 |
| 8. | "Dolgoch Tape" | 2:39 |
| 9. | "Bully" | 4:43 |
| 10. | "Dismissive" | 4:17 |
| 11. | "Medicine" | 5:11 |
| 12. | "Ladder" | 2:58 |
| Total length: | 45:22 | |
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from Bandcamp liner notes.[2]
- Clark – vocals, instruments, production, mixing
- Thom Yorke – executive producer, bass, vocals ("Medicine")
- Richard Spaven – drums
- Rakhi Singh – violin, backing vocals
- Anika – vocals ("Sus Dog")
- Budapest Art Orchestra – strings
- Matt Colton – mastering
- Jonathan Zawada – artwork, design
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 Rettig, James (24 January 2023). "Clark – "Town Crank" (Feat. Thom Yorke)". Stereogum. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Sus Dog, by Clark". Bandcamp. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 DeVille, Chris (26 May 2023). "Clark – "Medicine" (Feat. Thom Yorke)". Stereogum. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Murphy, Ben (24 May 2023). "Clark: Singing A Different Song". DJ Mag. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Sus Dog by Clark Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 Tafoya, Harry (May 2023). "Clark: Sus Dog". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ↑ Breihan, Tom (15 September 2020). "Thom Yorke Remixes "Isolation Theme," From Clark's Score For Horror Movie 'Daniel Isn't Real':Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ↑ "Clark and Thom Yorke on Sus Dog". Double J. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ↑ "Clark – "Clutch Pearlers"". Stereogum. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ↑ "Clark – "Dolgoch Tape"". Stereogum. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ↑ "Clark – "Vardo"". Stereogum. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- 1 2 Phares, Heather. "Sus Dog – Clark". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ↑ Smyth, David (May 2023). "Clark: Sus Dog review". Evening Standard. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- 1 2 "Clark: Sus Dog". Mojo. 2023.
- 1 2 Morris, Damien (28 May 2023). "Clark: Sus Dog review". The Observer. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- 1 2 O'Connell, Sharon (2023). "Clark: Sus Dog". Uncut.
- 1 2 Attard, Paul (2023). "Clark: Sus Dog". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
