Modern English, Mesh & Lace, 1981 on 4AD

Debut album from Modern English on the 4AD label. This wasn’t released in the US formally until the 2012 CD reissue and then 2016 on vinyl.

The debut is a bit darker and more derivative of Joy Division than some of the later work but still a really strong collection of songs.

I always loved the lyric from “I Melt With You”: “never realizing it was always mesh & lace” but didn’t recognize at the time it was something of a reference to their debut.

My copy—via a record fair at Mill No. 5—is a UK pressing by WEA in West Drayton, with the original inner sleeve.

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