Client

Released in 2003, Client's self-titled debut arrived at the height of the electroclash movement but distinguished itself through a more rigorous, conceptual approach. Formed by Kate Holmes and Sarah Blackwood (under the aliases Client A and Client B), the project was the first signing to Andrew Fletcher's (Depeche Mode) Toast Hawaii label. The album's sonic palette is a deliberate homage to early Mute Records releases, specifically the primitive electronics of Daniel Miller and the starkness of early Human League. Lyrically, the record subverts corporate language and service-industry slogans to explore themes of power, submission, and identity. The production is characterized by its 'dry' mix, eschewing lush reverbs for a claustrophobic, immediate sound. Critical reception highlighted the album's successful marriage of pop hooks with an uncompromisingly cold aesthetic, cementing Client as a key fixture in the UK electronic underground.