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Modern English
New wave/post-punk band
Modern English are an English new wave post-punk rock band formed in 1979 in Colchester, Essex, England. They are best known for their songs "I Melt with You", "Hands Across the Sea" and "Ink and Paper".
The group disbanded in 1987, but re-formed two years later and then disbanded again in 1991. They reunited again in 1995 and have continued in various line-ups since then.
members: Richard Brown, Michael Conroy, Robbie Grey, Gary McDowell, Stephen Walker
formed in: Colchester
labels: 4AD
genres: new wave, post-punk
Facts from Wikidata and Discogs, free to use.
new wavepost-punkpop rockalternative rock
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History
Formed in Colchester, Essex, in 1979 by Robbie Grey (vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar, vocals), and Michael Conroy (bass, vocals) (born 9 August 1962), Modern English were originally known as The Lepers. The group expanded to "Modern English" when Richard Brown (drums) and Steven Walker (keyboards) were added to the line-up of the band.
Modern English were formed in Colchester, Essex, England, in 1977 by Robbie Grey (Vocals), Gary McDowell (Guitar) and Michael Conroy (Bass). Originally known as the Lepers, the band made their name in the burgeoning punk scene where they would get together exclusively to play at parties, until they were picked up by 4AD. Richard Brown (Drums) and Stephen Walker (Keyboards) were subsequently added to the line-up of the band. A debut single, "Drowning Man" was released in 1980 on the Limp Records label. The band's debut full-length; "Mesh & Lace", released by 4AD a year later, it drew heavily on the gloomy post-punk sound already patented by bands such as Joy Division. The follow-up "After The Snow" showed a huge progression, as they introduced warmth and strong guitar harmonies (most notably on the minor classic "I Melt With You"), rejecting the tinny bleakness of the debut. It was especially well received in the USA, and the band relocated to New York to consolidate a popularity encouraged by college radio. 1984's "Ricochet Days" had a crisper production but less creative experimentation. By the time of "Stop Start" (1986), the band had left 4AD and Walker and Brown had quit the ba
Also known as: Gary English, M. English, モダン・イングリッシュ, 摩登英佬樂團
From Discogs (free to use). Their entry
Liner notes
Modern English, the records, oldest first
Mesh & Lace
1981 album
After the Snow
1982 album
wanted
Ricochet Days
1984 album
Stop Start
1986 album
Pillow Lips
1990 album
I Melt With You
1990 ep
Everything's Mad
1996 album
In Concert
2008 album
Soundtrack
2010 album
Blister EP
2010 ep
Take Me to the Trees
2016 album
1 2 3 4
2024 album
Records from MusicBrainz; covers from the Cover Art Archive.
"I Melt with You" is a song by the British new wave band Modern English. The song, produced by Hugh Jones, was the second single from their 1982 album After the Snow.
It became the band's most successful single, largely in the United States, where it was featured in the film Valley Girl and on MTV. It reached number seven on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart in 1983 and a re-release reached number 76 on its Hot 100 chart in 1990.
Background
Modern English formed in 1979 in Colchester, Essex, England. The group signed with 4AD, a British independent record label, in 1980.
Reception
A reviewer for Billboard commended the song as "classy", describing it as a "dreamy, acoustic-edged rocker." The re-recorded edition of the song for the band's 1990 album Pillow Lips was received negatively by the Los Angeles Times's Chris Willman, who dubbed it "nearly identical yet markedly inferior."
