Client’s Heartland is an album that exists in the same electropop universe as Goldfrapp and Annie, as well as 80s bands like New Order and Pet Shop Boys. I love this kind of music, and as a result, I really enjoyed this album, but it’s not the kind of work that transcends the genre. If you like slick, icy electropop, this is a great album to check out, thoroughly enjoyable, but not quite making it to transcendent.
The album opens with its best track, the dark, enveloping “Heartland.” The song’s driving synthesizers and tinkling guitar lines recall Depeche Mode, in the same way that a lot of Gwen Stefani’s recent work does. The droning synths create a great atmosphere, and the chanted, almost robotic delivery of the course really sells the song. You can practically see a smoky club, in a future that looks suspiciously like the 80s.
Most of the other songs are more upbeat and poppy. “Drive” and “Lights Go Out” work well, really catchy, smartly written pop songs. The instrumental solo in the middle of “Drive” is a particular highlight. The opening build of “Lights Go Out” is pretty cool as well, setting up a grand stage before segueing into a glam rock stomp.
The problem with some of these songs is that they cross from pop catchy to just annoying. “Zerox Machine” is the worst offender, all surface, no layers, and as a result, it becomes tired before you even finish listening to it. But even within that song, there’s some strong moments. I suppose it’s the album’s adherence to traditional pop chorus/verse structures that at times prevents it from reaching something higher. It’s the breakdowns and instrumental sections where the album really shines.
In a song like “Heartland,” which seamlessly mixes the vocals into a larger atmospheric tapestry, the band excels. It’s not that their singing is bad, it’s more that I like the way that song emphasizes the robotic quality of the delivery, and synthetic quality of their voices. “It’s Not Over,” another darker number, works well, with ethereal wisps of vocal cascading over a deeper vocal. A song like “Lights Go Out” begs for an extended, instrumental remix, because the backing beat is so phenomenal, it can get a bit buried under the less extraordinary vocals. With a band like this, the lyrics aren’t the point, the vocals are merely a structural element around which they can build the rest of the song.
Article comments
1 - Oli Cassette
Hi Pat - enjoyed your review & agree with it by and large!
You might be interested to know that my band Cassette are playing at Client's London club 'Being Boiled' next Tuesday - if you weren't in NY, I'd invite you down!!
It'd be great if you wanted to check out our stuff on the myspace though, cos if you like this kind of electro, you might well enjoy our stuff too - let us know what you think!
2 - Patrick
I just went to your MySpace and I'm a fan. If you've got any recordings you'd like to see reviewed on here, send them over to me and I'd be glad to write them up. Shoot me an e-mail.
3 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article has been forwarded to the Advance.net websites and Boston.com.
4 - Oli Cassette
Hi Again Pat - Just swung by the site and saw your reply - I'd love you to review our stuff, but can't see how to contact you directly to send links, etc. Maybe send me a message via the Myspace? Cheers!
5 - MACY
Interesting and well written review. Although, I don't think it's fair to compare Client to Goldfrapp. A lot of people do this? Is it just because they were both signed to mute records? If you listen to Heartland a few times, you realize that it is a very unique album and very emotional for an electro band. I'm also very impressed by Sarah Blackwood's voice and the dark enigmatic femme-fatale character she creates on stage. Check her out in the 'It's Not Over' promo. She's fantastic in it. I've always felt that Client should be a bigger electro band. I'm not sure what's happening in the music world these days?
6 - Radar-Q
Thanks for the video Macy. I never knew they did one for that song. It's Wicked. I Just saw the 'six in the morning' video too. Holy @**%%! I just wish Sarah and Kate were in it somehow...
Heartland is a great record and it shows the band going in a more clubby pop-style direction. It would be the perfect record for them if it had two or more tracks like 'lights go out', 'it's not over' and 'get your man back'.
Client have always been a bit moody and dark, which I love, but If they cranked up their sexuality and made their tracks even more fast and pumping, they'd be huge. Sarah has such a haunting sexy voice and is amazing to watch live.