Client

Fly me: Ooh, it's like a naughty airport lounge fantasy. Two anonymous divas, dressed immaculately like S & M stewardesses in crisp shirts, pencil skirts, PVC gloves and kinky f***-me pumps, playing sleazy electropop songs about thrills, pills and prostitution - welcome to the naughty, haughty world of Client. The mystery molls were the first signings to Toast Hawaii, a new label started by Depeche Mode's Andy Fletcher; their stern image and saucy synthpop got musos hot under the starched collar, and wondering about the true identity of these wired-up women. The records offered little clue - the pair simply referred to themselves as Client A and Client B, but both women have been in high-profile bands before. Sarah Blackwood was the frontwoman for that fine Britpop band Dubstar, and Kate Holmes played keyboard with Frazier Chorus. She's also married to Creation boss Alan McGee. The duo were eager not to trade on their past bands, hence the codenames.

Soft sell: Client got together when Holmes's last band, Technique, lost their singer on the eve of a tour with Depeche Mode. They called Northern lass Blackwood, who was at a loose end following the demise of Dubstar, and she hurriedly packed her PVC and joined up. The two women hit it off immediately, and decided to go it together, Holmes taking care of keyboard duties, and Blackwood handling the vocals and the dark, decadent lyrics. There's a kernel of truth in some of Client's darker lyrics - Blackwood has suffered from depression. Their first album was recorded entirely on a laptop; their new one, City, features guest turns from Depeche Mode's Martin Gore and The Libertines' Carl Barat and Pete Doherty. The current single, Pornography, is, apparently, an ode to monogamy.

Clientele: When Client aren't playing well-received gigs around the world, they can be found DJ-ing in Soho's Thirst bar, where they have a monthly residency, Being Boiled. The duo spin their favourite electro classics, including songs by The Human League, New Order, DFA and David Bowie. Fans come from far and wide to dance here, and worship at the altar of these two robot goddesses. Both claim to be bisexual and fascinated by fetishism and repression, so there's plenty of sauce for the goose and the gander.

Aye, robot: Client's sound is metal machine music with a warm, human heart, and Blackwood's earthy, Northern tones certainly break the icy, electronic edge. One writer compared them to Kraftwerk fronted by Dusty Springfield. Client will be playing La Locomotive in Paris on Wed 26th Jan, with New York electro legends Suicide. Bring PVC.

Kevin Courtney