After reuniting in 2009 and a successful US tour in 2013, British post-punk/pop craftsmen Modern English have returned to the States for a May/June tour and will be performing on 6/5 at Baby's All Right in Williamsburg.
Titled the "Mesh & Lace" tour, named after their 1981 debut album, this is the first time that the band, (original founding members, vocalist Robbie Grey; bassist Mick Conroy; guitarist Gary McDowell; and keyboardist Stephen Walker, along with drummer Roy Martin, who originally toured with the band in 1986), will be performing the album in its entirety. The tour also celebrates the soon to be released reissue of "Mesh & Lace" on CD and Opaque Green Vinyl and 200 Gram vinyl, and the CD and vinyl re-release of "After the Snow", both on Drastic Plastic Records. This is the first time the vinyl for "Mesh & Lace" has been available in the US.
According to bassist Conroy, "It took us 2 weeks to make 'Mesh & Lace'. We didn't really know what we were doing, but knew what we wanted it to sound like. Noisy and pounding, and atmospheric at the same time. I guess these days it's called 'post punk'. When we play these songs live today, I am reminded of the energy and chaos that we put down on tape back in early 1981."
Since the band's last tour, they've been working on their eagerly awaited eighth record, their first since 2010's "Soundtrack". The Pledge Music-supported album will feature artwork by iconic 4AD sleeve designer Vaughn Oliver, and is produced by Martyn Young, a founding member of 4AD's band Colourbox.
Known for their sonic and multi-layered music, LCD frontman James Murphy told Derrick Rossignol of "Music Mic" in his article "13 Albums That the Most Successful Musicians Listen To" that the closing track from "Mesh & Lace", "Dance of Devotion" is "possibly one of the best and most underrated screaming British punk/new wave songs." He said of the album, "That record is a sneaky secret that everyone writes off, because they just think it's going to be a 'Melt With You,' but it sounds way scarier than any Joy Division record."
In the words of Grey, "'Mesh & Lace' is Modern English growing branches, like a tree, experimenting with sound and atmosphere. We were young and daring. It's my favourite album because it's all us. The ideas are all ours."
Videos