Modern English

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Modern English is a band best remembered for their song “I Melt With You” which was an MTV staple in 1982, and has appeared in various commercials and movies over the years. The group disbanded a while in 1991, but later recorded in 1995 with some new members.

Formed in Colchester, Essex, England, in 1979 by Robbie Grey (vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar, vocals), and Michael Conroy (bass, vocals), Modern English was originally known as The Lepers. The group expanded to “Modern English” when Richard Brown (drums) and Stephen Walker (keyboards) were subsequently added to the line-up of the band (later Ted Mason, Matthew Shippley). A debut single, “Drowning Man” was released in 1980 on the Limp Records label. The band’s full-length debut Mesh & Lace, released by 4AD Records a year later, drew heavily on the sound already patented by bands such as Bauhaus and Joy Division.

The follow-up album After The Snow (August 1982), recorded by the same line-up, introduced warmer sounds and strong guitar harmonies (most notably on the hit “I Melt With You”), in contrast to the tinny bleakness of the debut. It was well received in the USA, selling 500,000 units, and the band relocated to New York to consolidate a popularity encouraged by college radio. Their album Ricochet Days had a crisper production with hits such as “Ricochet Days” and “Hands Across the Sea”. By the time of Stop Start, released in the US by Sire Records in 1986, Walker and Brown had left, and Aaron Davidson (keyboards, guitar) (later of March Violets) had joined.
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  • After the Snow
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  • Pillow Lips
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  • Mesh & Lace
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  • Ricochet Days
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  • blue_bell_knoll

    mesh & lace is incredible [2]

    March 2012

  • ze_zar

    Compilado (para descargar) que arme de la selección de canciones originales que tomaron los chicos de Nouvelle Vague, en su primer disco (Nouvelle Vague/2004), clásicos del new wave/goth rock/post-punk que ellos versionaron en bossanova lounge sounds... Podrás encontrar la canción "I'll Melt With You" de Modern English • http://themusicnonstop.com/original-songs-from-nouvelle-vagues-selection-nouvelle-vague/

    February 2012

  • YoungAssouls

    mesh & lace is incredible

    February 2012

  • dAniel_brit

    Wow, you are very lucky!

    November 2011

  • sitasaysgo

    I had the opportunity a few years ago to talk to Robbie Grey backstage at a show. He's such a nice guy and funny, too. He seemed genuinely impressed that I knew their whole discography besides "Melt With You"!

    November 2011

  • flashbleu

    It seems weird to think they had a hit in America. It's a bit like Americans finding out that Mission Of Burma had a nit in the UK. (They didn't, obviously...)

    November 2011

  • flashbleu

    It's an Essex accent.

    November 2011

  • foreigner97

    I love the Brittish accent in 'I Melt With You'.

    November 2011
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