Customer Reviews

City

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Client's second CD, City, is a lot more varied than their great debut. Most tracks maintain an electronic edge, but the soundscapes are more dynamic, the beats more aggressive, and the melodies stronger. And we have more great vocals from bombshell Client B, who is of course the former lead singer of Dubstar.

Standouts are:

1. Overdrive -- this sounds like latter-day Depeche Mode (dark, mid-tempo, pulsing) and features Martin Gore on backup vocals.

2. Don't Call Me Baby -- a diametric opposite to Overdrive... this is the poppiest song I have ever heard. This could be from a good Erasure album. The catchiest hook of a chorus you'll ever hear. Sounds so sweet you might get cavities in your ears.

3. The Chill of October -- epic, orchestral ballad. Could be a Bond tune. Also, it isn't too far removed from Dubstar.

4. It's Rock and Roll -- sparse electronic, almost punk in its repetition. Great 80's synth leads.

5. Come On -- a sort of electronic take on 60's go-go music.

The singles, In it for the Money, Radio, and Pornography are also top-notch. Actually everything on this CD is! Client is carrying the torch of all the synthpop greats of the past -- into the future.

Nestled between electroclash and chill, Client is an interesting female duo who find Depeche Mode acting as generous benefactors on this latest release, City. Signed to Mute, featuring Martin Gore and produced by Andy Fletcher, it's no small wonder that tracks such as One Day At A Time - with its Debbie Harry-style vocal - are ringers for Depeche Mode's quintessential sound and said track would be a perfect addition to any edgy radio station playlist. Strangely enough, City's other two stand-out guests (notably featuring on separate tracks) are The Libertines mainstays Carl Barat and Peter Doherty. After releasing one of 2004's most outstanding albums in The Libertines, why not sprinkle a bit of the magic dust on Client's new album too? Barat's appearance on Pornography harnesses the droll monotone delivery and deft lyrical turns of peak Pet Shop Boys - "Just you and me pornography, just you and me monogamy" - and emerges as a synth heavy killer a long way from the guitar driven rock of Barat's regular job. The English lasses behind Client - Kate Holmes and Sarah Blackmore (from defunct UK pop act Dubstar, responsible for the excellent 1995 single Stars) - initially come on like a dimorphic mix of Curve (particularly on Radio) and Human League at their majestic Dare prime, thus making them obvious rivals of Ladytron and Black Box Recorder. Although not meeting the continuous highs of these competitors, the effective percussive additions such as the tooth-drilling sounds on Overdrive and the air raid sirens of In It For The Money add frantic appeal. Electroclash may be dead, but Client is ensuring that its chilled out little sister is still kicking on nicely.

Client is one of those acts that I have been wanting to check out but I kept putting them aside for other artists/bands. A month ago I finally got around to buying one of the duo's albums. I found the group's second album CITY at a local record store and bought it on a whim. I didn't realize until now that Sarah Blackwood used to be in Dubstar, a group I used to listen to in the '90s. I found myself enjoying Sarah's work with Client more so than her stuff with Dubstar. I would describe Client's music as one part Ladytron, one part Goldfrapp(post-Felt Mountain), and one part Depeche Mode. The music has a bit of rock, synthpop, and electro clash. I must confess that I didn't take to CITY right away. I had to listen to the album a few times to let the music sink in. The first three tracks kinda bored me but after that the songs got better, especially "One Day at a Time". Another great song I enjoyed is "Cracked", a lovely yet brief instrumental track. "Pornography" is another favorite with its catchy pop hooks and silly lyrics. Although CITY isn't a perfect album I still thought it was a good starting point for this new fan.

this is the 2nd cd by client in her first band dubstar sarah blackwood who is the lead singer of client sounded sweet and very charming.....well in her new project client she sounds chilling and dead sexy...the lead single "in it for the money" is a cold harsh truth about our society today...this album is a wake up to all electronic bands including even depeche mode....this is the real thing, no trace of top 40 crap here...these two ladies mean business.....every song is better than the one before..."theme" could be a opening to a sci-fi movie..."its rock n roll" is part 2 of "rock n roll machine" from their first lp....lets cut to the chase...BUY THIS ASAP

I was struck listening to this album, not necessarily at Sarah Blackwood's post-Dubstar shift in genre, but how this was something that wouldn't have been radically out of place 25 years ago -- which is good or bad, depending on your take on the matter. Taken on its own, however, a thoroughly enjoyable album equally at ease on a dance floor or a treadmill at the gym...